KPMG LLP

KPMG's physical workplace is rated as exceptional. KPMG recently moved into its new head office in downtown Toronto that has been constructed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standard. One of the city's newest landmark skyscrapers is designed to consume 40 percent less energy than comparable buildings. The downtown location ensures that employees are only a short walk away from many of the city's major attractions, including live theatre and music, arts festivals and professional sporting events. Inside KPMG's current head office the building features an employee lounge (with comfortable seating, fireplace, television, Wii video gaming system and pool table); self-serve kitchen areas on every floor; free hot and cold beverages, exceptional city views; and an outdoor courtyard with gardens, seating and unique glass-walled walkways; nap room; religious observance room; concierge services available; secure bicycle parking; access to underground walking network and subway system.

KPMG's work atmosphere is rated as exceptional. KPMG employees can take advantage of an unique concierge service (called the 'Thirsty Muse) to help with everything from running errands to researching the best appliances for the home. On the job, employees enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams; organized social events. KPMG subsidizes employee social committees at offices across the country. Each office organizes a variety of fun social events for employees, including year-end holiday parties, children's Christmas parties, golf tournaments, baseball games, family summer barbeques, ski trips and employee service milestone celebrations. During the busy tax season, offices across the country make special efforts to recognize their employees' hard work, sponsoring weekly draws for free housecleaning, massages, restaurant dinners, private movie screenings, and family weekend getaways to resorts in the Laurentians and Banff. KPMG sponsors a variety of employee sports teams across the country, including running, scuba diving, cricket and hockey teams (which also face-off against one another in the annual KPMG hockey tournament). KPMG keeps employees up-to-date about new developments and captures feedback through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; email suggestion box.

KPMG'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 ensuring competitive compensation, the firm also provides signing bonuses for some employees; new employee referral bonuses (to $5,000 for some positions); year-end bonuses for all employees; year-end bonuses (to $75,000); profit-sharing plan for all employees; defined contribution pension plan with employer contributions (up to 9% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; client product discounts (from wireless communications to clothing).

KPMG's health and family benefits are rated as exceptional. KPMG's health benefits plan is managed by Sun Life and Manulife Financial. The health benefits plan is flexible, meaning that employees can tailor individual plans to their personal circumstances. As part of the flexible plan, employees can transfer up $10,000 from their annual bonus to purchase additional health benefits. (Through this option, employees avoid paying income taxes on the transferred portion.) As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. The health plan is a flexible plan with adjustable premiums and coverage levels. Employees who work 15 hours per week receive coverage. There is no waiting period before coverage begins. Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. Traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. As part of the flexible plan, employees also customize their levels of coverage for dental and eyecare, depending on their needs. Employee also receive a generous fitness subsidy (to the equivalent of 1.25% of salary) that can be used for everything from fitness club memberships to home gym equipment to golfing and skiing. The company's family-friendly benefits include; fertility treatments; maternity top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 17 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 100% of salary for 4 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 100% of salary for 4 weeks); adoption assistance subsidy to $20,000 per child; health benefits during maternity and parental leave; extended unpaid parental leave option (beyond the first year); subsidized onsite daycare; onsite daycare centre; pre-arranged emergency short-term daycare. Employees receive up to 80 hours of emergency dependent care each year, which include child, spousal and elder care services when needed. Additional family-friendly benefits include a unique 'Baby Buddy' program to help provide ongoing informal communications with the firm when on maternity leave (helping to ensure employees are invited to office functions and social events); flexible working hours; telecommuting; 35-hour work week (with full pay); shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); reduced summer hours program; compressed work week; earned days off (EDO) program; phased-in retirement work options; As part of its efforts to manage its practice in face of the recent economic downturn, KPMG took an exceptionally enlightened approach to reduce employee costs (as well as other expenditures), asking employees to take four days of unpaid leave in the spring and summer in conjunction with long weekends and encouraged employees to take short (up to 3 weeks) subsidized leaves of absence, where employees received 20% of salary.

KPMG'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 5 weeks of vacation each year. Employees can schedule 7 personal days off each year, as needed. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.

KPMG's employee engagement program is rated as exceptional. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 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. Because many of its employees work at client locations in the field, KPMG has developed a unique web-based program that allows employees to complete self-evaluations online and communicate directly with managers at any time from any location. To recognize excellent performance, KPMG operates an outstanding program that lets employees nominate their colleagues for a variety of levels of awards that are measured through a point system, with values ranging from $25 to $5,000. As part of this program, employees can even accumulate their points for awards of higher value. KPMG sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 12 months); KPMG hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys.

KPMG's training and skills development program is rated as exceptional. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (Employers cover up to 100% of tuition). (Employers pay up to $3,500 in subsidies). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (Employers cover up to 75% of non-related tuition). (Employers pay up to $3,500 in tuition subsidies for non-related courses). In addition to generous tuition subsidies, KPMG provides subsidies for professional accreditations; financial bonuses for course completions; in-house apprenticeship and skilled trades programs; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; formal mentoring program; new employee orientation program; formal mangement training program; summer internship program; course completion bonuses to $2,000. In recognition of the reality that the baby-boomers are beginning to shuffle-off into retirement, KPMG is investing in new training initiatives to prepare its next generation of leaders.

KPMG's community involvement program is rated as exceptional. KPMG 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. As part of the firm's "Community Care Day" program, employees from across the country volunteer with local charitable and community organizations. The firm sets aside one business day each year and provides company donations for the charities assisted by employees. KPMG also encourages employee volunteerism through its "CEO Community Excellence Awards" program. Through this initiative, the firm's top volunteers from across the country receive special recognition at an annual luncheon as well as a $1,000 donation that is presented to the charity of their choice. The firm also operates the longstanding KPMG Foundation that directs funds to universities, hospitals, research organizations, women's support groups, arts organizations, children's charities, and environmental groups across the country.