Nexen Inc.

Nexen's physical workplace is rated as exceptional. Nexen's downtown head office is a unique 36 storey stainless steel office tower, featuring a glassed-in open atrium with exotic plants, trees, and pond. The tower houses a large conference centre with a full feature theatre and numerous meeting rooms including the Halo room, a virtual meeting room equipped with high definition video displays and acoustic technology. Inside, the office features a 7,000 square foot onsite fitness facility (with free memberships, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, rowing machines, weights, television and music, large change rooms and shower facilities); employee lounge (featuring comfortable seating, television, and local and international newspapers); concierge services available; onsite cafeteria (with healthy and special diet menus); secure bicycle parking; and kitchen facilities on every floor (with coffee and tea, daily fruit and cereals). The office is situated to provide convenient access to public transportation with C-train and bus service directly outside the building. The office building is connected to the city's enclosed walkway system and is also located within minutes of bike and running paths, Century Gardens, and Princess Island Park.

Nexen's work atmosphere is rated as above-average. On the job, employees enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams; organized social events. For nearly twenty years, the company-subsidized committee, Nexen Social Club, has been responsible for organizing events throughout the year including an annual employee hockey tournament, annual adult and children's Christmas party, Family Day festivities at Spruce Meadows, and an annual Stampede pancake breakfast. The club also arranges complimentary tickets to various cultural and sporting events, and coordinates numerous employee sports teams throughout the year, from dragon boat racing to hockey. Nexen captures feedback and keeps employees up-to-date through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; traditional suggestion box; email suggestion box.

Nexen'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. In addition to ensuring competitive compensation rates, Nexen provides signing bonuses for some employees; new employee referral bonuses (to $5,000 for some positions); year-end bonuses for all employees; share-purchase plan for all employees; profit-sharing plan for all employees; defined benefit pension plan; defined contribution pension plan with employer contributions (up to 7% of salary); life & disability insurance; and retirement planning assistance. Employees may choose between a defined benefit pension plan or a defined contribution pension plan, finalizing their selection at the age of 45.

Nexen's health and family benefits are rated as average. Nexen's health benefits plan is managed by Sun Life Financial. 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 20 hours per week receive coverage. There is no waiting period before coverage begins. Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; orthodontics; traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance; healthclub subsidy (to $500 each year). Nexens' family-friendly benefits include; fertility treatments; maternity top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 6 weeks); health benefits during maternity and parental leave; extended unpaid parental leave option (beyond the first year). Additional family-friendly benefits include; post-secondary academic scholarships for children of employees; compassionate top-up payment (to 100% of salary for 6 weeks) while caring for a family member; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); compressed work week; earned days off (EDO) program; phased-in retirement work options; fertility drug payments (to $2,400 every two years).

Nexen'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 10 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation each year. Employees receive 24 personal days off, as scheduled by their employer. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.

Nexen's employee engagement program is rated as exceptional. 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. Nexen operates the formal "Employee Recognition Program" that awards employees who contribute beyond their basic job responsibilities, with bonus payments up to $5,000. The unique "President's Safety, Environment, and Social Responsibility" award recognizes excellence in SESR performance and donates up to $10,000 to a charity of the recipients choosing. The company also awards outstanding business achievements that result in major business gains through the coveted "President's Award", which features no maximum dollar amount. Nexen sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 4 months); Nexen hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).

Nexen'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 $35,000 in subsidies). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (Employers cover up to 100% of non-related tuition). (Employers pay up to $35,000 in tuition subsidies for non-related courses). In addition to generous tuition subsidies, Nexen also 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; career planning services; new employee orientation program; formal mangement training program.

Nexen's community involvement program is rated as exceptional. Nexen and its employees support a variety of local, national, and international charitable organizations. 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; Approximately 600 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. Nexen's employee matching gift program enables employee donations to registered agencies and organizations to be matched dollar for dollar by the company, to a maximum of $20,000 per calendar year. Nexen is also actively involved with United Way and participated in several campaign events over the past year including Family Day of Caring, through which employees and their families engaged in community service activities, Summer Student Day of Caring, during which summer students spent a day painting the interior apartments of Aspen Family and Community Services building, and a nine day project to paint and beautify the exterior of the same building.