Certified General Accountants Association of Canada

CGA Canada's physical workplace is rated as exceptional. The Association's suburban head office is a 43,000 square foot building located in the centre of Lower Mainland, in South Burnaby's Glenlyon Business Park. The office is surrounded by green space and parkland, and is within minutes of the Burnaby Urban Trail system which features walking and biking paths (the office even offers communal bikes for its employees). The internal layout was designed with employee feedback in mind, resulting in maximum exposure to natural light in common work areas as well as the central atrium. In addition, the office features an onsite fitness facility (with free membership, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, rowing machines, weights and popular instructor-led classes such as yoga and cardio); employee lounge (with comfortable seating, fireplace, daily newspapers, board games, satellite television, video games and music); nap room; religious observance room; concierge services available; onsite cafeteria (with healthy and special diet menus, free and subsidized meals); secure bicycle parking; transit subsidies; free parking; free coffee and tea; free snacks; lunchroom with fridges and microwaves; and an outdoor eating area.

CGA Canada's work atmosphere is rated as very good. Employees at CGA Canada enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams. Employees partake in several social events and celebrations throughout the year including a children's Christmas party, family day picnic, staff year-end gala, holiday ornament exchange, and a themed summer barbecue. Employees also participate in the Association's cricket and volleyball teams. The company keeps employees up-to-date about company news and encourages feedback through a corporate intranet site; email suggestion box.

CGA Canada's financial benefits are rated as very good. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 24 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. In addition to ensuring competitive compensation, CGA provides signing bonuses for some employees; year-end bonuses for all employees; year-end bonuses (to $2,500); matching RSP contributions (up to 6% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; VIA Rail discounts (to 10%); and Microsoft computer software and hardware discounts.

CGA Canada's health and family benefits are rated as very good. CGA Canada's health benefits plan is managed by Pacific Blue Cross and RBC Insurance Services. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 20 hours per week receive coverage. There is no waiting period before coverage begins. Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. The health plan also includes retiree coverage up to 70 years of age. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; orthodontics; eyecare ($250 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance; healthclub subsidy (to $100 each year). Retired employees can also elect to continue their coverage and pay premiums after their coverage ends, with no age limit. Employees can also take advantage of discounts on laser eye surgery (to 15%) and eyewear (to 20%). CGA Canada's family-friendly benefits include; fertility treatments; maternity top-up payments (to 65% of salary for 17 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 65% of salary for 17 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 65% of salary for 17 weeks); adoption assistance subsidy to $5,000 per child; health benefits during maternity and parental leave; extended unpaid parental leave option (beyond the first year). And offsite daycare subsidy of 5% of annual fees per child. Additional family-friendly benefits include; flexible working hours; phased-in retirement work options; and a longstanding "TGIF" policy that gives employees the last Friday afternoon off each month from September to May.

CGA Canada'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 5 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation each year. Employees can schedule 5 personal days off each year, as needed. Employees receive 4 personal days off, as scheduled by their employer. During the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 3 days off. Employees receive 5 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. (Management employees move to 4 weeks vacation after 3 years on the job).

CGA Canada's employee engagement program is rated as above-average. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 24 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 interview provided for departing employees. CGA Canada recognizes exceptional performance with pay increases, gift cards to restaurants and retail stores and long-service awards. The company also operates a Contest and Draw reward for a trip for two anywhere in North America. CGA Canada sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 12 months); CGA Canada hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).

CGA Canada's training and skills development program is rated as very good. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. In addition to tuition subsidies, the Association also contributes to employees' career development through subsidies for professional accreditations; formal mentoring program; formal mangement training program. As part of its focus on professional development, CGA Canada dedicates over 1.5% of its payroll expenditures on employee training and development. CGA recently partnered with Simon Fraser University and their Learning Strategies Group to create a leadership development program, offering further learning opportunities for employees.

CGA Canada's community involvement program is rated as above-average. CGA Canada supports a variety of local, national and international charitable initiatives. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. Employees receive paid time off to volunteer with their favourite charitable organizations. Employees also receive 1 paid day off to volunteer. Last year, employees donated over 40 hours volunteering with charitable projects. Approximately 14 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. Last year, the Association collected clothing and donations for Haiti disaster relief. CGA Canada and its employees also supported the Adopt-a-Family Foundation, the annual Vancouver Sun Run, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, BC Children's Hospital, and the Canadian Cancer Society.

As part of an effort to incorporate environmental awareness into its everyday operations, CGA Canada provides employees with transit subsidies (to $500 each year), purchases offsetting carbon credits for employee travel, has eliminated the use of Styrofoam cups in the office and has installed environmentally-friendly lighting throughout the office. The Association recently established an employee-led 'Green Team' that regularly reviews and introduces new environmentally sensitive approaches to its day-to-day operations.