Rescan Environmental Services Ltd.

Rescan's physical workplace is rated as above-average. Rescan's downtown head office is located on Vancouver's waterfront and overlooks North Shore Mountains and the Sea Wall. The building is also within minutes of Coal Harbour Park, Stanley Park, and Portal Park, with running, walking, and rollerblading paths. Many of the features of the head office were designed and selected by employees, from furniture to employee photography and original Canadian artwork adorning the walls. Inside, the office also features an on-site science laboratory as well as an onsite fitness facility (with free memberships, treadmills, stationary bikes, weights, and shower facilities); employee lounge (with comfortable seating, television and DVD player, and board games); secure bicycle parking; transit subsidies; car pool sign-up system. The building is also conveniently situated to provide easy access to Canada Line Skytrain station (a five minute walk), YWCA, YMCA, and the Coal Harbour Community Centre.

Rescan's work atmosphere is rated as exceptional. On the job, employees enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams; organized social events. The employee social committee, called the "Rescan After Hours Committee", is comprised of six members who organize monthly events for employees as well as family and friends. The committee arranges regular events to suit all tastes and even conducts an annual survey to determine the most popular activities. Past events include Dim Sum lunch, pub quiz night, curling bonspiel, skating and hockey, bowlerama, an annual picnic in Stanley Park, Halloween pumpkin carving and costume contest, and an annual Christmas party. The company encourages employees to make their opinions known through a variety of means and keeps employees up-to-date about new company developments through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; traditional suggestion box; email suggestion box; exit interviews with departing employees.

Rescan'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, Rescan offers signing bonuses for some employees; new employee referral bonuses (to $1,000 for some positions); year-end bonuses for all employees; year-end bonuses (to $10,000); profit-sharing plan for all employees; defined contribution pension plan with employer contributions (up to 3% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; and discounted company products.

Rescan's health and family benefits are rated as average. Rescan's health benefits plans are managed by Pacific Blue Cross and RBC Insurance. 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 30 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; eyecare ($250 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. The company's family-friendly benefits include; 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 (and vary on a case-by-case basis); flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); compressed work week; phased-in retirement work options; Rescan also provides a short compassionate leave top-up for employees needing to care of an ill family member (to 100% of salary for half a week).

Rescan'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 4 weeks of vacation each year. Employees receive 5 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. The company has also given several employees leave to complete post-secondary studies.

Rescan'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. (In addition to the annual employee review, employees also receive interim reviews as necessary.) Rescan recognizes exceptional performance by rewarding employees with hockey, concert, or movie tickets, as well as cash rewards for the employee of the month. An environmentally conscious employer, Rescan also offers eco-friendly rewards, including transit subsidies, green rebates for environmentally sensitive purchases (to $250 each year), and use of the company's Green Ideas hybrid car. Rescan sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 6 months); Rescan hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).

Rescan'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). In addition to tuition subsides, Rescan 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. In association with the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business, the company created the Rescan Management Development Program to encourage the continued development of its high-performing employees. Courses include project management, cost control, negotiation skills, finance, and accounting.

Rescan's community involvement program is rated as above-average. Rescan 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 22 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. In April, Rescan participated in the fifth annual Mining Industry Blood Donor Challenge, receiving recognition for the past five consecutive years as the employer with the highest employee participation rate. The company also supported the following charitable and community initiatives, including the Arctic Winter Games, the Canadian Blood Services, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Prostrate Cancer Foundation of BC, the Vancouver Food Bank, and Engineers Without Borders, to name a few.