Chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and Greater Toronto's Top Employers for 2012:
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors
(
Oct 6, 2011)
Some of the reasons why GM Canada was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2012:
unique physical workplace which includes a variety of onsite amenities such as a fitness facility with subsidized membership, quiet room for meditation and reflection, and a cafeteria, with healthy and special diet menus as well as subsidized meals
let's employees share in the company's success with year-end bonuses and a profit-sharing plan that is available for all employees
supports employees who are new mothers with maternity leave top-up payments (to 75% of salary for 17 weeks) followed by parental leave top-up payments (to 75% of salary for 17 weeks)
also provides parental leave top-up payments to employees who are new fathers and adoptive parents (to 60% of salary for 37 weeks)
encourages the ongoing development of employees through generous subsidies for tuition and professional accreditation, paid internship opportunities, in-house and online training, and a formal mentoring program
helps older workers prepare for retirement with contributions to a defined contribution pension plan and retirement planning assistance
Employer Background
General Motors of Canada Limited (GM Canada) is one the largest manufacturers of automobiles in Canada.
General Motors of Canada traces its roots back to the late 1800's with the establishment of the the McLaughlin Carriage Company. In 1918, the McLaughlin Carriage Company, which was already producing McLaughlin Buicks and Chevrolet cars through a unique partnership agreement, was purchased outright by Detroit-based General Motors Company. Today, the publicly-traded parent company is one of the world's largest auto manufacturers, with over 200,000 employees and facilities around the world. In Canada, General Motors' operations include assembly plants, the Canadian engineering centre, a powertrain manufacturing facility , a cold weather testing facility as well as parts distribution facilities across the country. Today, GM Canada produces the Chevrolet Camaro, Buick Regal, Chevrolet Impala, GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Equinox. GM Canada is also supported by the country's largest dealer network with locations in cities and towns across the country.
Industry: Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing.
Publicly traded.
Stock symbol: GMM-N.
Established: 1908.
Parent company: General Motors Company.
Major Canadian hiring locations: Oshawa ON, Ingersoll ON, St. Catharines ON, Kapuskasing ON, Pointe-Claire QC, Woodstock ON, Edmonton AB, Calgary AB, Langley BC.
Full-time employees in Canada: 10,771.
Full-time at this location: 5,741.
Full-time worldwide: 205,600.
New jobs created in Canada last year: 411.
Voluntary employee turnover last year: 2%.
Longest serving employee: 39 years.
Workforce engaged on a contract basis: 4%.
Percentage of employees who are women: 17.2%.
Of managers: 21.8%.
Percentage of employees who are visible minorities: 6%.
Of managers: 7.7%.
Of directors: 25%.
Average age of all employees: 45.8.
Percentage of employees who are aboriginals: 2.5%.
Of managers: 0.7%.
Rating: APhysical Workplace
GM Canada's physical workplace is rated as above-average. The Oshawa head office is situated alongside the company's massive assembly facility and the Canadian Engineering Centre. The four storey head office offers great views of Lake Ontario and the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve where employees can also take advantage of nature walking trails in the summer and even pond skating in the winter. Inside, the head office features onsite fitness facility (with subsidized membership, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, rowing machines, weights, shower facilities and instructor-led classes such as spin classes, pilates and core training); employee lounge (with comfortable seating on every floor); religious observance room; onsite cafeteria (with healthy and special diet menus and subsidized meals); outdoor eating area; secure bicycle parking; free parking.
Rating: BWork Atmosphere & Communications
GM Canada's work atmosphere is rated as average. On the job, and depending on their position, employees enjoy business casual dress; casual dress daily; employee sports teams. Every year, the company sponsors Christmas holiday celebrations, free pizza lunches for plant employees, summer barbeque (with new automobile product displays), and even a General Motors hockey league. Across the company and across all employee groups, GM Canada keeps employees informed about new developments through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; traditional suggestion box; email suggestion box.
Rating: B+Financial Benefits & Compensation
GM Canada'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. Along with competitive compensation for both union and non-union personnel, the company offers signing bonuses for some employees; year-end bonuses for all employees; profit-sharing plan for all employees; defined contribution pension plan with employer contributions (up to 4% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; matching share purchase program (to 4% of salary), discounted auto lease rates; and discounted company products.
Rating: A+Health & Family-Friendly Benefits
GM Canada's health and family benefits are rated as exceptional. The company's benefits plans are managed by Greensheild Canada, with separate plans for its union and non-union employee groups. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 85% of the premiums. The waiting period for new employees is 365 days. Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; orthodontics; eyecare ($325 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. GM Canada's family friendly benefits include; fertility treatments; maternity top-up payments (to 75% of salary for 52 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 60% of salary for 37 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 60% of salary for 37 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); flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); job-sharing program.
Rating: B-Vacation & Personal Time-Off
GM Canada's vacation and personal time-off are rated as average. New employees receive 2 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Vacation increases after 3 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation each year. Employees can schedule 9 personal days off each year, as needed. During the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 5 days off. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.
Rating: AEmployee Engagement
GM Canada's employee engagement program is rated as above-average. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 months. Managers receive training in how to conduct effective performance reviews. Exit interview provided for departing employees. GM Canada acknowledges exceptional performance through variable pay program, matching share purchase program and a vehicle purchase program. The company also manages a unique suggestion program (called the A.C.E. Program) through which employees may submit suggestions for the improvement across all aspects of the company. Employees and groups who submit the best adopted ideas that lead to cost savings are eligible for cash bonuses (from $50 to $5,000) as well as monthly and quarterly draws for prizes and even the chance to win a new vehicle. GM Canada hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).
Rating: A+Training & Skills Development
GM Canada's training and skills development program is rated as exceptional. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (Employers pay up to $6,400 in subsidies). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (Employers pay up to $2,000 in tuition subsidies for non-related courses). In addition to generous tuition subsidies, the company offers subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house apprenticeship and skilled trades programs; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; formal mentoring program; career planning services; new employee orientation program; formal mangement training program.
Rating: ACommunity Involvement
GM Canada's community involvement program is rated as above-average. GM Canada supports a number of local, national and international charitable initiatives, including a variety of unique community projects to assist youth education in science, technology and the environment. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. Approximately 8 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. Through the company's "GM Green" initiative, the company partners with Oshawa area high schools to measure overall health of the Oshawa Creek that winds through the city. GM Canada also sponsors and mentors student teams in the FIRST Robotics competition and has partnered with EcoCAR and Challenge X, which challenges university teams to design and build vehicles of tomorrow that are powered by alternative propulsion systems. In addition, the company and its employees supported the annual United Say campaign, the Oshawa Hospital Foundation, MADD Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, Community Wheels, and Girl Guides and Boy Scouts.
