Mountain Equipment Co-op

MEC's physical workplace is rated as above-average. The head office is housed in a refurbished auto parts warehouse that was constructed with reclaimed construction materials, energy-efficient appliances and systems, low VOC paints and natural wool carpets. Across its many retail locations, MEC is recognized for leading the way in incorporating many environmentally sensitive features into its stores, including location (access to public transit) to monitored secure parking for bicycles, green roofs and reclaimed and recycled building materials. The MEC head office is located a short walk to a Skytrain station and Granville Village. Inside, the head office features employee lounge (with comfortable seating, music, television, guitar and magazines); free coffe and tea, outdoor eating area and barbeque; daily deliveries from a local deli; nap room; secure bicycle parking; transit subsidies; free parking; shower facilities; bike room with tools and repair station; and a "gear box" that contains outdoor equipment that employees can sign-out for free, from high-end kayaks and canoes to sleeping bags and snowshoes.

MEC's work atmosphere is rated as exceptional. Employees at their head office enjoy business casual dress; casual dress daily; can listen to music while working; can bring pets to work when needed; employee sports teams. Employees enjoy an annual year-end party, a CEO-initiated celebration, summer barbecues, a Halloween party, pizza parties, a "deck the halls" party during the Christmas season, departmental lunches and dinners, a service milestone celebration to celebrate its longest serving employees, an employee and family appreciation night, as well as a number of no-cost but fun events, such as wildlife sweater day, a Christmas craft fair, an annual chili cook-off and the MEC coffee day. Last year, MEC hosted a special year-end party in celebration of its 40th anniversary. The cooperative is also a social hub, helping to create opportunities for employee to join with their like-minded colleagues for after-work bike rides, company running teams and even paddling. MEC keeps employees up-to-date through a recently redesigned corporate intranet site.

MEC'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. MEC also provides signing bonuses for some employees; new employee referral bonuses (to $5,000 for some positions); profit-sharing plan for all employees; matching RSP contributions (up to 4% of salary); life & disability insurance; a no-interest bike and boat loan program; personal computer loan program; and an incentive compensation program; year-end bonuses for some employees.

MEC's health and family benefits are rated as very good. The co-operative has separate (but similar) health benefits plans for its part-time, manager and unionized employees. Their health benefits plans are managed by SunLife Financial, RBC Insurance and AXA Insurance and all offer the following minimum levels of coverage As part of the health plan, the employer pays 75% of the premiums. Employees who work 30 hours per week receive coverage. The waiting period for new employees is 90 days. 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; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. (Part-time employees work must work a minimum of 15 hours per week to be eligible for their health benefits plan). MEC's family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 75% of salary for 11 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 75% of salary for 11 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 75% of salary for 11 weeks); health benefits during maternity and parental leave. Additional family-friendly benefits include; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); compressed work week; earned days off (EDO) program.

MEC's vacation and personal time-off are rated as very good. 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 6 weeks of vacation each year. Employees receive 12 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.

MEC'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. Exit interview provided for departing employees. MEC recognizes exceptional performance with a prosperity bonus program and year-end bonuses (for managers only). As a cooperative, MEC also distributes share redemptions to all its members (or members may elect to donate their portion to charitable initiatives) on those occassions when business affairs are sound and the organization is adequately funded -- it's a nice perk and one that also works to binds employee performance to the overall success of the organization; MEC sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 12 months); MEC hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 24 months).

MEC'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). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (Employers cover up to 100% of non-related tuition). MEC also supports employees' ongoing career development with subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house training programs; online training programs; career planning services. In a unique training initiative, employees receive paid time-off to attend a variety of outdoor education programs, including the NOLS Outdoor Educator program (which is a 30 day program hosted in Whitehorse, Yukon) and the Leave No Trace Master Educator program (which is a 5 day program hosted in locations across Canada).

MEC's community involvement program is rated as exceptional. Every year, the co-operative supports a variety of charitable organizations at the local and national levels. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. Employees receive paid time off to volunteer with their favourite charitable organizations. Employees also receive 2 paid days off to volunteer. Last year, employees donated over 190 hours volunteering with charitable projects. Approximately 107 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. MEC's overall community involment programs are aligned to its employees (and members) core values, with wilderness conservation a defining element in its community support initiatives. The cooperative and its employees volunteer and support a wide variety of initiatives every year, ranging from local bike advocacy and trail maintenance efforts to national outdoor education programs and major conservation efforts across Canada.

Impressively, the co-op has been providing financial assistance to grassroots conservation initiatives for over 20 years, donating 1% of its total revenue to numerous local, regional and national initiatives every year (there truly are too many to mention). In 2007, MEC became a signatory, and the first retailer, to the "1% For The Planet" initiative, which is an alliance of businesses that believe in providing financial support to environmental initiatives. The initiative publicly commits the cooperative to donate a full 1% of its annual pre-tax revenues to Canadian environmental causes. MEC has also partnered with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) in the establishment of the "The Big Wild" (thebigwild.org) initiative in 2008. The national organization is dedicated to promoting and preserving Canada's wild spaces, with the "modest" starting goal of protecting at least 50% of all Canada's public lands and waters -- the initiative's first major success is the recent expansion of the spectacular Nahanni National Park in Yukon.