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  Employer Review

Cameco

 
Cameco Corporation
Cameco employee taking water samples from a lake
Cameco employee taking water samples from a lake
Chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers, Top Employers for Canadians Over 40, Ten Best Companies to Work For and Saskatchewan's Top Employers for 2013:
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors   (Oct 9, 2012)

Some of the reasons why Cameco was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2013:
  • a unique resource company with over 3,000 full-time employees in Canada and continues to expand and create new jobs for Canadians, adding approximately 170 new full-time positions over the past two years
  • along with being the worlds largest producer of uranium and exporting to markets worldwide, the company's expertise is also at work in exploration and mining operations in the United State Kazakhstan and Australia
  • offers great financial benefits including signing bonuses for some employees, referral bonuses (to $5,000), year-end bonuses, and a share purchase plan available to all employees
  • provides compassionate leave top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 8 weeks) to employees who are called upon to care for a loved one
  • encourages ongoing employee development through subsidies for tuition and professional accreditation, a formal mentoring program, in-house skilled trades training programs, and onsite learning at each of Cameco's northern Canada work sites
  • also manages an academic scholarship program, offering 40 annual scholarships (to $2,500 each) for children of employees who are pursuing post-secondary studies in Canada
  • unique head office with a range of onsite amenities including fully-equipped fitness facility, employee lounge with fireplace and television, cafeteria with healthy menus and subsidized meals, and nap room, for employees who need a quick break during the day
  • starts new employees at three weeks of paid vacation allowance, in addition to paid time off during the holidays
  • helps employees prepare for life after work with retirement planning assistance, phased-in retirement work options, matching RSP contributions and a health benefits plan that extends into retirement (with no age limit)

Employer Background

Cameco Corporation is a producer of uranium that provides uranium processing services to nuclear power plants. The publicly-traded company's processed uranium is used to generate electricity in nuclear power plants around the world. In Ontario, Cameco is also a limited partner in North America's largest electricity generating station, the Bruce Power generating station. Cameco also manages exploration and mining operations in Canada, the USA, Kazakhstan and Australia.


Industry: Uranium-Radium-Vanadium Ore Mining. Major Canadian hiring locations: Saskatoon SK, Port Hope ON, Cobourg ON, Blind River ON. Publicly traded. Stock symbol: CCO. Revenues: $2,384 million. Established: 1988. Full-time at this location: 745. Full-time employees in Canada: 3,033. Full-time worldwide: 3,361. New jobs created in Canada last year: 174. Part-time employees in Canada: 136. Number of applications received at this location last year: 16,037. Average age of all employees: 40.4. Longest serving employee: 45 years.

 Rating: BPhysical Workplace

Cameco 's physical workplace is rated as average. Cameco manages four work sites in northern Canada as well as three work sites in central Ontario, in addition to their corporate headquarters in Saskatoon. At he head office (and at some other locations), employees can take advantage of an onsite fitness facility (with free membership, weights, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, rowing machines, instructor-led classes such as pilates and yoga and shower facilities); employee lounge (with comfortable seating, fireplace and television); large training centre with with computer lab and lecture theatre; nap room; religious observance room; onsite cafeteria (with healthy menus and subsidized meals); free coffee and tea; secure bicycle parking; transit subsidies; free parking.

 Rating: B+Work Atmosphere & Communications

Cameco 's work atmosphere is rated as very good. Depending their position and location, employees enjoy casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams; organized social events. Across the company, employees gather for holiday parties at Christmas, pancake breakfasts, summer barbeques and to attend local sporting events. Recently, Cameco celebrated its 20th anniversary with special events at each site, from traditional fall dinners to summer barbeuqes, for employees and their families. Each event was hosted by the company's CEO and was free for all attendees. The company keeps employees up-to-date and gathers feedback through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; email suggestion box.

 Rating: B+Financial Benefits & Compensation

Cameco 's financial benefits are rated as very good. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. Cameco provides share-purchase plan for all employees; signing bonuses for some employees; year-end bonuses for all employees; defined contribution pension plan; matching RSP contributions; new employee referral bonuses (to $5,000 for some positions); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; phased-in retirement work options; Depending on their position, employees are eligible for a matching RSP plan or defined contribution pension plan.

 Rating: B+Health & Family-Friendly Benefits

Cameco 's health and family benefits are rated as very good. Cameco has four separate health plans that offering varying levels of coverage, depending on the employee location. The health benefit plans are managed by Sun Life Financial. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. The health plan is a flexible plan with adjustable premiums and coverage levels. Employees who work 25 hours per week receive coverage. There is no waiting period before coverage begins. Family coverage is available on the health benefits plan. Retiree coverage is also available on the health plan, with no age limit. The basic plan includes routine dental; eyecare ($50 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; fertility treatment medications; employee assistance (EAP) plan; medical equipment and supplies; physiotherapy; massage therapy; travel insurance. For some employees there is no waiting period and for those with the flexible health plan option, employees can apply their unused credits towards a health care spending account and for wellness-related expenses, such as gym memberships or sports team registration fees. The company's family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 6 weeks); health benefits during maternity and parental leave. Additional family-friendly benefits include; post-secondary academic scholarships for children of employees; compassionate top-up payment (to 100% of salary for 8 weeks) while caring for a family member; flexible working hours; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); compressed work week; telecommuting; scholarship program for employees' children, offering 40 annual scholarships (to $2,500 each) for those pursuing post-secondary studies in Canada, the USA or Australia.

 Rating: AVacation & Personal Time-Off

Cameco 's vacation and personal time-off are rated as above-average. New employees receive 3 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Vacation increases after 10 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 5 weeks of vacation each year. During the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 3 days off. Employees receive 8 paid sick days every year. Employees receive 4 personal days off, as scheduled by their employer. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. Employees working at remote work sites receive 4.2 weeks (21 days) paid vacation time upon hire, which increases to 5.6 weeks (28 days) after five years on the job.

 Rating: BEmployee Engagement

Cameco 's employee engagement program is rated as average. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 months. Managers receive training in how to conduct effective performance reviews. Performance feedback is also solicited from co-workers and other managers familiar with each employee's work. As part of the review process employees can provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance. Exit interviews are provided for departing employees. The company recognizes exceptional performance (for union and non-union employees) plan that is based on corporate and group performance. Top performing and long serving employees may also have the opportunity participate in the company's share option program. Cameco hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).

 Rating: A+Training & Skills Development

Cameco 's training and skills development program is rated as exceptional. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (Employer covers up to 100% of tuition). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (Employer covers up to 100% of non-related tuition). Cameco also supports employees' career development with subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house apprenticeship and skilled trades programs; formal mentoring program; career planning services; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; new employee orientation program; formal management training program; onsite Learning Centres at the Rabbit Lake, Key Lake, and McArthur River sites, with courses that range from tutorial assistance for apprenticeship candidates to General Education Development (GED) test preparation. The company also provides two types of education leaves: a short-term leave option of up to two days per month, usually reserved for study time or exam preparation time, or an extended paid education leave of up to 35 days per year. Cameco also manages a formal career transition program for employees at their northern Saskatchewan sites. The program gives high-potential employees the chance to pursue post-secondary education in an operations- or mining-related field (e.g. geology, chemistry, engineering). Employees with a high school diploma (or equivalent) or some level of post-secondary studies are eligible to enrol. Program participants receive up to 80% of their annual salary during their period of study, in addition to subsidies for tuition, registration-related fees, and books. They are also provided with employment during school breaks, and are guaranteed a job in their new profession when they complete their program of study.

 Rating: ACommunity Involvement

Cameco 's community involvement program is rated as above-average. Every year, he company supports a number of local and national charitable organizations. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. Employees receive paid time off to volunteer with their favourite charitable organizations. Last year, employees donated over 3,458 hours volunteering with charitable projects. Approximately 800 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. Cameco sponsors an annual radiothon to raise funds for the Children's Hospital in Saskatchewan, and more than 200 employees volunteered to beautify their neighbourhoods as part of the company's Earth Day challenge last year. The company and its employees also support the United Way (with matching company donations), Habitat for Humanity and the Canadian Blood Services, hosting annual onsite blood drives. 2.13.

This Employer Review has been viewed 101,172 times.
©2013 Mediacorp Canada Inc. All rights reserved. Used by Eluta with permission. For comments or questions on this employer review, please contact Mediacorp's editorial team.

   

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