Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

Hamilton Health's physical workplace is rated as above-average. Hamilton Health Sciences' six hospital locations offer a variety of healthcare work environments, with each hospital site reflecting its own unique history from the campus setting of McMaster University Hospital to spectacular views from the Niagara Escarpment setting of the Henderson Hospital and Juravinski Cancer Centre sites. The administrative office is located at the Chedoke Hospital site, which also offers a campus-like setting with landscaped gardens, walking trails and outdoor eating areas. The Hospital offers discounts at local restaurants in addition to each location featuring an employee lounge; nap room; religious observance room; onsite cafeteria (marche-style with healthy menu items, special diet menus, food service kiosks, subsidized meals for some employees working overtime); gift shops (the food service and gift shops are operated by a volunteer association and raise over $2 million in profits for patient care every year); secure bicycle parking; transit subsidies; nearby public transit; organized car pools and an employee group called "Smart Commute HHS" that works with the City of Hamilton to encourage alternative transportation.

Hamilton Health's work atmosphere is rated as very good. Employees at Hamilton Health enjoy casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; organized social events. The Hospital sponsors a number of events throughout the year, including an annual employee recognition dinner, summer barbeques, employee golf tournament, Halloween celebrations, Christmas tea socials at each hospital location, and a Christmas party for employees' children (with over 3,000 guests). Employees stay informed about new hospital developments and can provide feedback through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; email suggestion box.

Hamilton Health's financial benefits are rated as very good. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 6 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. Hamilton Health Sciences also provides signing bonuses for some employees; year-end bonuses for all employees; year-end bonuses (to $1,000); defined benefit pension plan; life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; discounts at local businesses through the "Employee Discount and Incentive Program" (with monthly draws for prizes, ranging from movie passes to cottage country getaways).

Hamilton Health's health and family benefits are rated as above-average. Hamiltion Health Sciences Corporation operates four separate health benefits plans, with premium coverage ranging from 75% to 100% of premiums depending on the employee group. While coverage amounts may vary, all plans include the following minimum benefits: Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. 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. Non-union management, health professional and corporate employee groups receive a health services spending account (from $300 to $3,000) that can be used to cover expenses not covered by their respective plans. (Retired employees may remain enrolled in their health plan provided they cover the cost of the premiums.). The hospital's family-friendly benefits include: maternity top-up payments (to 75% of salary for 17 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 75% of salary for 10 weeks). Professional, Nursing and Management employees receive increased maternity leave top-up payments to 84% of salary (from 15 to 27 weeks) and parental leave top-up payments to 84% of salary (from 8 to 12 weeks), depending on their employee group.

The hospital also features an onsite daycare centre that is owned and operated by an outside daycare provider. Conveniently located and utilized by many employees, the daycare centre has 39 spaces with a waiting list of 3 months. Employees also can take advantage of emergency short-term daycare services when needed. Flexible working hours; telecommuting; 35-hour work week (with full pay); shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); compressed work week; phased-in retirement; summer camp program through daycare centre for children 6 to 9 years old.

Hamilton Health'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 3 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 7 weeks of vacation each year. Employees receive 75 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. Employees can also take a pre-paid leave of absence through income deferral for the period of their leave. (Some employee groups start at and 4 weeks of paid vacation).

Hamilton Health's employee engagement program is rated as very good. 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. As part of its performance management program, Hamilton Health has a variety of awards program to recognize its outstanding employees. Every year, the hospital recognizes employees through a number of category areas, including: encouraging diversity; coaching and mentoring; responding with grace under pressure; assisting patients and co-workers; nursing achievement; and a unique "human-touch" award for going the extra-mile in helping patients; to name a few. Hamilton Health sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 12 months); Hamilton Health hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys.

Hamilton Health's training and skills development program is rated as above-average. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (The employer provides up to $5,000 in subsidies). In addition to tuition subsidies, the Hospital provides 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; new employee orientation program; formal mangement training program; financial bonuses for course completions (from $180 to $1,400). Hamilton Health Sciences has also taken a leading role in helping foreign trained physicians find healthcare placements and launch their careers in Canada.

Hamilton Health's community involvement program is rated as very good. Hamilton Health Sciences actively supports a variety of local 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. Last year, employees donated over 1,304 hours volunteering with charitable projects. Approximately 23 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. The Hospital is a major supporter of the United Way's annual "Partners in Caring" campaign, which in turn provides support to numerous charitable organizations. Every year, employees donate their time and expertise to promote and manage campaigns across all hospital locations. (In addition, the Hospital's VP of Research and Corporate Development recently served as the Hamilton-Burlington United Way Campaign co-chair.) Hamilton Health Sciences also hosts a number of youth initiatives in the community, including the annual Take Your Kids to Work day as well as a series of career days for students from local elementary and secondary schools.

In an effort to reduce its environmental footprint (and save on energy costs), Hamilton Health has implemented a major energy retrofit program that will replace old chillers, coolers, air handling units, medical gas and vacuum equipment as well as lighting systems -- estimated to save over $48 million in the first decade and reduce its carbon footprint by an amount equal to the impact of planting over 3.5 million trees.