Golder Associates Ltd.

Golder's physical workplace is rated as above-average. With no traditional head office, the employee-owned firm operates through a network of international offices, including over 30 in Canada with primary locations in Burnaby, Calgary, Mississauga and Montréal. The company's Burnaby office is within walking distance to the city's SkyTrain station and offers convenient highway access for commuters. The office features an onsite fitness facility (with free memberships, treadmills, stairmasters, stationary bikes, rowing machines, weights, basketball court, shower facilities, onsite massage therapist, instructor-led fitness classes, including yoga and cardio); employee lounge (with comfortable couches, vending machines and free coffee and tea); onsite cafeteria (recently renovated with health menu items and special diet menus); free coffee and tea; nearby shopping mall; secure bicycle parking; transit subsidies; free parking.

Golder's work atmosphere is rated as very good. Across the company, Golder employees enjoy business casual dress; casual dress daily; casual dress Fridays; employee sports teams; organized social events. The company-subsidized social committee organizes a variety of fun events for employees every year, including a winter party, a Christmas party for employees's children, a summer picnic, a company-sponsored barbeque and informal social events throughout the year. Golder also sponsors a number of employee sports teams, including dragon boat racing, baseball, golf, bowling, curling, hockey and employee running teams that enter Vancouver's popular Sun Run and the grueling Ski-to-Sea competition. Golder employees stay informed about new company developments through regional newsletters, quarterly reports company newsletter; corporate intranet site.

Golder'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 6 months. Golder also provides signing bonuses for some employees; new employee referral bonuses (to $2,000 for some positions); year-end bonuses for all employees; share-purchase plan for all employees; profit-sharing plan for all employees; defined contribution pension plan with employer contribution (up to 5% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance.

Golder's health and family benefits are rated as very good. Golder's health benefits plan is managed by Sun Life Assurance and is self-insured for dental, vision and extended health benefits. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 23 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 ($225 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. Annual fitness club subsidy for employees at other locations. Golder's family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 70% of salary for 15 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 70% of salary for 15 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 70% of salary for 15 weeks); flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); compressed work week; phased-in retirement.

Golder'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 5 weeks of vacation each year. Employees receive 12 paid sick days every year. Golder considers previous work experience when setting annual vacation for new employees.

Golder's employee engagement program is rated as above-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. Golder recognizes exceptional performance through its "Recognizing our Colleagues" program, which may include complimentary dinners, movie passes, gift certificates, golf games, paid family weekend getaways and cash performance bonuses for a job well done. The company also offers office and employee team awards to acknowledge project successes and a shareholder incentive compensation bonus program. Golder sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 3 months); Golder hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).

Golder's training and skills development program is rated as average. Golder places a strong emphasis on employee training, dedicating 1% of its net revenues to training initiatives. The company also contributes to a scholarship fund to help employees continue their education at outside institutions. In addition, the firm provides in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; career planning services; new employee orientation program; formal mangement training program; in-house training program (called GolderU); and financial bonuses for course completions (from $1,700 to $5,500). As an international organization, Golder also operates a unique International Employee Exchange Program that enables employees to travel and work at other company locations around the world.

Golder's community involvement program is rated as exceptional. Golder actively 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. Every year, Golder employees host auctions, breakfasts, potluck lunches, draws and bingo games to help raise money for United Way campaigns across the country. Employees also volunteer with a variety of local initiatives, from environmental projects to community soup kitchens and food banks. Internationally, Golder works with the Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief (RedR) organization to provide engineering expertise in response to natural disasters. The company has also established the "Golder Trust for Orphans", which is a corporate initiative that directs funds to initiatives that help improve the quality of life for children orphaned and displaced because of the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

At offices across the company, employees have responded to reducing their environmental footprints and building sustainable practices into their everyday operations. In Vancouver, the employee-led "Green Group" has introduced a battery recycling program, replaced disposable cups with cerramic mugs, and operates an environmentally-friendly company car program for business and personal use. The Mississauaga office has its own "Sustainability Committee" that meets regularly to develop initiatives to incorporate sustainable business practices into its everyday operations, from employee education campaigns to working with "SmartCommute Mississauga" to address commuter issues. The company's approach to addressing environmental concerns reflects its decentralized operations, highlighting a greater flexibility and the development of locally tailored solutions, one initiative at a time.