Chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and Greater Toronto's Top Employers for 2010:
By Richard Yerema and Rachel Caballero, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 2, 2009)
Some of the reasons why EllisDon was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2010:
encourages an ownership culture, offering profit-sharing and share purchase plans for all employees
manage a formal mentoring program, in addition to tuition subsidies for employees enrolled in courses at outside institutions
helps employees plan for retirement with a defined contribution pension plan and helps them make the transition through phased-in retirement work options
starts new employees with three weeks of paid vacation and considers previous work experience when establishing vacation entitlements for experienced workers
Employer Background
EllisDon Corporation is one of the country's largest general contracting, construction and project management firms.
Established in 1951, the privately- and employee-held company has completed projects across the country and around the world -- completing in excess of $2 billion in new construction projects every year. In addition to its Canadian office locations, the company has international offices in the United States, the West Indies and the United Arab Emirates. Across the country, EllisDon is behind some of the country's most exciting and recognizable building projects, including the the Bentall 5 high-rise extension in downtown Vancouver, the Rogers Centre in Toronto, the LEED-certified Centre for the Built Environment at the Nova Scotia Community College, the Frank Gehry redesign of the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the uniquely adapted Meno-Ya-Win Health Centre in Sioux Lookout, Ontario as well as local and regional hospitals across Canada. In addition to its core construction services, EllisDon also provides clients with a range related services, including equity financing, information technology and consulting services.
Industry:Commercial and Institutional Building Construction. Established: 1951. Major Canadian Hiring Locations: Calgary AB, Edmonton AB, Vancouver BC, London ON, Mississauga ON, Ottawa ON, Halifax NS. Full-Time Employees in Canada: 884. Full-Time at this location: 120. Full-Time Worldwide: 1,039. Voluntary employee turnover last year: 17%. Longest serving employee: 51 years. Number of applications received at this location last year: 4,494. Percentage of employees who are women: 26%. Average age of all employees: 44.
Rating: BPhysical Workplace
EllisDon's physical workplace is rated as average. While most employees work at job sites across the country and beyond, the company's suburban head office features an employee lounge (with comfortable seating and television); self-serve kitchen areas on every floor; discounts at nearby restaurants; free parking.
Rating: B+Work Atmosphere & Communications
EllisDon's work atmosphere is rated as very good. Of course dress codes will vary with each employee's position across the firm, head office employees enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams. EllisDon hosts end-of-month birthday celebrations, regular team lunches, golf tournaments, an annual hockey tournament with teams from across the company, departmental end-of-the-month drinks, annual trips to major sports events, and Christmas parties at its offices across the firm, as well as special Christmas paties for employees' children. The company also offers a discounted accommodation package at the Windjammer Landing Resort for employees as well as their family and friends. The company solicits ongoing feedback and keeps employees up-to-date throughout the year with a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; email suggestion box.
Rating: AFinancial Benefits & Compensation
EllisDon's financial benefits are rated as above-average. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. In addition to providing competitive compensation, EllisDon offers share-purchase plan for all employees; profit-sharing plan for all employees; defined contribution pension plan; retirement planning assistance; subsidized home and auto insurance; sports ticket giveaways and use of box seats at Rogers Centre (also an EllisDon construction project).
Rating: B+Health & Family-Friendly Benefits
EllisDon's health and family benefits are rated as very good. The company's health plan is managed by Great West Life. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 20 hours per week receive coverage. The waiting period for new employees is 90 days. Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; orthodontics; eyecare ($400 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. As part of the plan, employees receive a fitness subsidy as well as lifetime coverage (to $800) for laser eye surgery. EllisDon's family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 2 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 100% of salary for 2 weeks). Depending on the position, some employees can take advantage of; flexible working hours; telecommuting; phased-in retirement.
Rating: BVacation & Personal Time-Off
EllisDon's vacation and personal time-off are rated as 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 6 weeks of vacation each year. EllisDon considers previous work experience when setting annual vacation for new employees. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.
Rating: BEmployee Engagement
EllisDon's employee engagement program is rated as average. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 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. EllisDon hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).
Rating: A+Training & Skills Development
EllisDon's training and skills development program is rated as exceptional. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (The employer subsidizes up to 100% of tuition). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (The employer subsidizes up to 100% of non-related tuition). In addition to full tuition subsidies, EllisDon offers subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house apprenticeship and skilled trades internships; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; formal mentoring program; career planning services. The company's extensive in-house training program (called EllisDon University or "EDU") offers an impressive variety of courses and programs for all employees, ranging from financial management to conflict resolution to Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) certifications.
Rating: A+Community Involvement
EllisDon's community involvement program is rated as exceptional. Every year the company 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. Approximately 175 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. Last year, EllisDon and its employees supported the Peel Children's Centre, Habitat for Humanity, the United Way, the Canadian Arthritis Society, the Children's Wish Foundation, as well as numerous hospital foundations across the country. In one unique and notable initiative in Calgary -- in support of a single, and truly selfless, foster mother of 13 children -- EllisDon employees applied their considerable skills and constructed an entire addition to the crowded home. This impressive initiative has ensured that the 13 children could all live comfortably in their adopted home.
