Next Level Games Inc.

Next Level Games' physical workplace is rated as above-average. The company's downtown head office is located in downtown Vancouver and just steps away from a restaurants, shopping and entertainment options. Prior to moving into the office, Next Level established an employee committee to help design the space and make recommendations on everything from building materials to environmental considerations to office layout and furniture selections. The resulting design is a bright open concept space that can be configured and changed as the company grows. Inside, employees enjoy an employee lounge (with comfortable leather couches, communal lunch tables, foosball table, music, large flatscreen television, board games and video games); free coffee, tea and hot chocolate; subsidized snack selections (including fruit juices, muffins, mixed nuts and sweet treats); instructor-led yoga and pilates classes hosted onsite two times each week; secure bicycle parking.

Next Level Games' work atmosphere is rated as above-average. On the job, employees enjoy casual dress daily; can listen to music while working; can bring pets to work when needed; organized social events. The company and its employees maintain a busy social calendar throughout the year, from informal pub nights and team sports to the monthly "ABC" announcements, complete with cake and drinks. The ABC event is hosted on the last Friday of every month, providing employees a chance to celebrate birthdays and share their news in an informal setting. The company also celebrates major holidays throughout the year, including Halloween (with costumes and candy), Easter (with a in-house Easter-egg hunt) and the Christmas holidays with a daytime event with a visit from Santa and gifts for employees' children as well as an evening party for employees and their partners. In the summer, employees and their families also enjoyed a barbeque at a nearby beach. While still maintaining a company culture that strongly encourages face-to-face communication, the company also keeps employees up-to-date through a corporate intranet site.

Next Level Games' financial benefits are rated as average. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 24 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. In addition to ensuring that its compensation levels remain competitive, employee may also receive signing bonuses for some employees; share-purchase plan for all employees; profit-sharing plan for all employees; life & disability insurance.

Next Level Games' health and family benefits are rated as above-average. The company's health plan is administered by Sun Life Financial. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 20 hours per week receive coverage. The waiting period for new employees is 90 days. Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; orthodontics; eyecare ($200 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. As part of their health plan, employees also receive an $800 health spending account to cover costs that are not covered by the basic plan. Next Level's industry leading family friendly benefits include; fertility treatments; maternity top-up payments (to 80% of salary for 27 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 80% of salary for 27 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 80% of salary for 27 weeks). In addition to generous maternity and parental leave top-up payments, the company also helps employees balance their personal and working lives with; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); compressed work week.

Next Level Games' 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 4 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 4 weeks of vacation each year. Employees can schedule 5 personal days off each year, as needed. Employees receive 25 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.

Next Level Games' employee engagement program is rated as very good. 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. The company recognizes employees' hard work by celebrating project completions with dinners and a less formal but fun activity, such as go-karting. In addition, people who have being logging extra hours are recognized and encouraged to take additional time off through a formal time-off system -- a rarity in an industry where long hours are often assumed to be just part of the normal work day. While working hard to maintain a culture of open communications with ongoing training for managers in this regard, Next Level has grown much since its founding and today is developing an in-house employee survey to capture additional feedback from its employees.

Next Level Games' training and skills development program is rated as very good. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (Employers cover up to 100% of tuition). Along with tuition subsidies for program related to an employee's position, the company also offers in-house training programs; formal mentoring program; career planning services; and in-house Japanese language training.

Next Level Games' community involvement program is rated as above-average. As a smaller employer, employees are actively encouraged to share their stories and ideas about which charitable initiatives they would like to support. Employees receive paid time off to volunteer with their favourite charitable organizations. Last year, employees donated over 100 hours volunteering with charitable projects. Last year, in recognition of the company's strong connection to employees at Nintendo of Japan, employees donated money to the Red Cross and even sponsored a firefighter from Vancouver to travel to Japan in support of rescue efforts following the devastating earthquake and tsunami. In a unique initiative last year, employees also hosted a foosball tournament, complete with prizes, to raise money for the COS Football Giveaway, which is an organization that provides soccer balls to impoverished communities in Africa.