New Flyer Industries Canada ULC

New Flyer's physical workplace is rated as very good. New Flyer's head office and primary manufacturing facility are located in a 340,000 square foot building in the city's historic Transcona neighbourhood. (New Flyer's three other Winnipeg plants are located within a short drive.) Prior to the recent edition of over 100,000 square feet to its head office building, employees were consulted about location and workplace design. The company's custom-built head office features an employee lounge (with comfortable seating, music and television); nap room; religious observance room; onsite cafeteria (with subsidized meals, healthy and special menu items; outdoor eating area; barbeque); secure bicycle parking; free parking; nearby public transit; car pool sign-up system; shower facilities for those using alternative transportation; variety of restaurants; nearby golf course.

New Flyer's work atmosphere is rated as average. On-the-job, employees at New Flyer enjoy business casual dress; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams; organized social events. The company-subsidized social committee organizes a variety of events during the year, including a Christmas holiday luncheon, a separate Christmas party for employees' children (with fun rides and gifts from Santa), an annual summer barbeque, and various departmental and business celebrations. Employees also enjoy an annual golf tournament, a curling bonspiels, dragon boat racing, baseball, hockey and basketball games. New Flyer keeps employees informed about new developments and capture feedback through departmental meetings corporate intranet site; traditional suggestion box.

New Flyer'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. New Flyer provides year-end bonuses for all employees; year-end bonuses (to $45,000); defined benefit pension with employer contribution (up to 3% of salary); life & disability insurance; discounts on home computers; bonuses for good attendance (to $650) for unionized employees; optional extended life insurance; discounts on supplier products and sevices, from reduced auto lease rates to wireless services to discounted travel and hotel rates.

New Flyer's health and family benefits are rated as average. New Flyer has separate health plans that vary according to the employee's work group. The company's health plans are managed by Manitoba Blue Cross and Great-West Life. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 25 hours per week receive coverage. The waiting period for new employees is 30 days. 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. New Flyer's family-friendly benefits include; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); phased-in retirement; continuing health coverages when on maternity and parental leave.

New Flyer'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 1 personal day off each year, as needed. Employees receive 1 personal day off, as scheduled by their employer. During the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 3 days off. Employees receive 5 paid sick days every year. New Flyer considers previous work experience when setting annual vacation for new employees. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. Employees also receive a paid day off on their birthday.

New Flyer's employee engagement program is rated as above-average. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months. Informal progress reviews are also held during the year. 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. The review process forms the basis for future salary increases. New Flyer recognizes exceptional performance with insignia merchandise and clothing, departmental lunches and dinners, and on-the-spot recognition cards. The company also has a quarterly recognition program for safe work performance as well as long-service awards. New Flyer sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 3 months); New Flyer hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 24 months).

New Flyer's training and skills development program is rated as exceptional. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (The employer subsidizes up to 100% of tuition). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (The employer subsidizes up to 100% of non-related tuition). In addition to tuition subsidies, the company 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; career planning services; new employee orientation program. Employees on apprenticeship programs receive full salary while attending classes. New Flyer's extensive in-house training program includes a variety of technical and non-technical programs, from safety training to ESL courses. With a view to the future, the company also endows a scholarship at the University of Manitoba, which is awarded to one engineering student each year.

New Flyer's community involvement program is rated as above-average. New Flyer actively supports a variety of local, national and international charitable initiatives. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. Employees also receive 1 paid day off to volunteer; Approximately 35 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. Last year, New Flyer and its employees supported the Transcona Neighbourhood Festival, Habitat for Humanity, the Canadian Youth Foundation, the Children's Wish Foundation, the Firefighter's Burn Fund, the Lupus Society of Manitoba and the United Way, to name a few. In support of the Canadian Cancer Society, employees recently organized a dragon-boat racing team to compete in the annual Manitoba Dragon Boat Festival.

New Flyer has also made a generous five year donation of $125,000 to the East Winnipeg Sports Association for the development of nearby Buhler Recreation Park, which is near the company's head office. The park offers local residents eight baseball diamonds, six soccer fields, walking and skiing trails and even a toboggan hill.

In addition to demonstrating a profitable committment to building mass transit buses that incorporate alternative fuels, electric trolley and hybrid technologies, New Flyer has established a number of environmental goals to reduce the pollution generated through its operations. The company's formal goal-setting policy to reduce the impacts of its operations highlight the company's evolving focus to align its manufacturing processes with the environmental credentials of its industry-leading mass transit products.