Ontario Public Service

Ontario Public Service's physical workplace is rated as very good. Across the Ontario Public Service, employees work in a variety of settings, from small field offices in remote areas of Ontario to Queen's Park in the heart of downtown Toronto -- over half of its employees work outside of the Greater Toronto Area. The main Queen's Park location in Toronto is actually comprised of several buildings located around the Ontario Legislature building. In 2007, the historic complex underwent a massive green-energy conversion project, which included a deep lake water cooling system that uses the waters of Lake Ontario to reduce cooling and heating costs, as well as improve the air quality of all buildings. The central location is located within the grounds of the University of Toronto and only a short subway ride to Ryerson University, as well as the city's best shopping, cultural attractions and restaurants. Employees at Queen's Park can take advantage of secure bicycle parking; shower facilities for bike commuters; subsidized parking; onsite cafeterias (with health and special menu items); employee lounges; outdoor patios and parks; and easy walking access to the city's public transit system (subway, bus and streetcar).

Ontario Public Service's work atmosphere is rated as very good. Employees at their main location enjoy business casual dress; employee sports teams; organized social events. Across the province, employees enjoy a wide variety of social and sporting events as well as an equally impressive variety of work environments, from office work in the cities to field work in Northern Ontario (with corresponding dress codes). The Ontario Public Service operates a unique program to capture employee feedback throughout the year. The online "OPS Ideas Program" encourages employees to submit their ideas on how to improve or enhance government services. (As a result of this program, information technology departments throughout the OPS are in the process of upgrading old servers, and improving energy efficiency in their data centre facilities.) In addition to capturing feedback, the Service keeps employees informed about news from across the province through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site.

Ontario Public Service's financial benefits are rated as very good. 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 rates, the Ontario Public Service also provides employees with defined benefit pension with employer contribution (up to 8% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance.

Ontario Public Service's health and family benefits are rated as exceptional. The OPS has varying health benefits plans, with overall coverage levels depending on the employee group. The health benefits plans are managed by Manulife Financial and Great-West Life with all plans offering the following minimums. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 14 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 health plan also includes retiree coverage with no age limit. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; orthodontics; eyecare ($340 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; employee assistance (EAP) plan. The OPS' generous family-friendly benefits include: maternity top-up payments (to 93% of salary for 32 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 93% of salary for 17 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 93% of salary for 17 weeks); onsite daycare centre; with 76 spaces; 16 childcare workers; and a 12 month waiting list for available spaces. (The Queen's Park Child Care Centre is a non-profit, onsite daycare facility that is open to the public but offers priority placement to children of OPS employees.) Additional family-friendly benefits include: flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); compressed work week; phased-in retirement; job-sharing and job-trading options.

Ontario Public Service's vacation and personal time-off are rated as average. New employees receive 3 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Vacation increases after 8 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation each year. Employees receive 6 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. Depending the employee group, some employees can schedule up to 6 personal days off each year.

Ontario Public Service's employee engagement program is rated as very good. 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. The OPS recently implemented a mandatory training program for all managers designed to develop communication and coaching skills. The Service also operates a performance rewards program to recognize exceptional work performance of its management, executive and professional employees, encompassing approximately 25% of its workforce. Recognition may come be represented through pay increases and bonus payments. Ontario Public Service hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 24 months).

Ontario Public Service's training and skills development program is rated as very good. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (The employer subsidizes up to 100% of tuition). In addition to job-related tuition subsidies, OPS supports ongoing employee career development with 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.

Ontario Public Service's community involvement program is rated as above-average. Beyond its many services provided to the community at large, the OPS 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. Approximately 350 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. Working through their Federated Health Charities Campaign, the OPS and its employees raised funds for numerous Ontario-based charities, including the United Way, the Heart & Stroke Foundation and the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, to name a few.

As part of its support for the United Way, the OPS also sponsors employee volunteers who work for 15-week work terms with the charity, with their salary and benefits covered by the OPS. In a separate initiative, employees are encouraged to volunteer with a charity of their choosing based on an annual theme that is established across the OPS. In 2007, employees from across the Service volunteered with organizations in their communities that provided assistance to the elderly. The themed initiative is an excellent example of how to maximize the impact of many simple acts of charitable kindness in communities across the province.