Chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers, Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers and BC's Top Employers for 2012:
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors
(
Oct 6, 2011)
Some of the reasons why Simon Fraser University was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2012:
supports employees who are new mothers, fathers, or adoptive parents with generous maternity and parental leave top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 37 weeks) and manages an onsite daycare facility which they may take advantage of upon their return
offers intriguing new urbanist living options as part of the UniverCity development project, which surrounds the campus and is one of the most innovative and progressive urban development projects in North America
encourages ongoing employee development through a variety of initiatives including subsidies for tuition and professional accreditation, apprenticeship and internship opportunities, formal mentoring and career planning services
helps employees prepare for life after work with retirement planning assistance, defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans (depending on their position) and health benefits that extend through retirement, with no age limit
starts new employees at three weeks of paid vacation allowance in addition to paid time off during the holiday season
Employer Background
Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a major Canadian university, offering more than 100 programs to over 30,000 students at three campus locations.
Founded in 1965 (and named after the explorer who charted the province of British Columbia in the 19th century), Simon Fraser University is comprised of six faculties, 60 departments, as well a number of subject oriented academic institutes and centres. SFU also serves students across the province through its well-developed Centre for Online and Distance Education. The University has established academic partnerships with leading academic institutions in 39 countries, including their unique international dual-degree program with Zhejiang University in China. SFU has three campuses, located in Burnaby (their main campus), Vancouver and Surrey.
Industry: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools.
Established: 1965.
Major Canadian hiring locations: Vancouver BC, Surrey BC.
Revenues: $615 million.
Full-time employees in Canada: 4,613.
Part-time employees in Canada: 2,551.
New jobs created in Canada last year: 310.
Voluntary employee turnover last year: 6%.
Longest serving employee: 41 years.
Workforce engaged on a contract basis: 1%.
Number of applications received at this location last year: 7,210.
Percentage of employees who are women: 53%.
Of managers: 46%.
Of directors: 26%.
Percentage of employees who are visible minorities: 14%.
Of managers: 14%.
Of directors: 14%.
Average age of all employees: 47.
Percentage of employees who are aboriginals: 1%.
Of managers: 1%.
Rating: A+Physical Workplace
Simon Fraser University's physical workplace is rated as exceptional. SFU's suburban campus is located on top of Burnaby Mountain, which offers breathtaking views overlooking Burrard Inlet and the surrounding city. The original campus building was designed by Arthur Erickson and its awared winning and unique architectural style has made it a popular location for movie and television productions. The University is also central to one of Canadas most exciting ongoing urban devlopment projects (called UniverCity) that will result in a sustainable new urbanist community for 10,000 people atop Burnaby Mountain. (SFU also has satellite campus locations in downtown Vancouver and Surrey.) The main campus features an onsite fitness facility (with free and subsidized membership, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, rowing machines, weights, basketball courts, squash and racketball courts, swimming pool, sauna, shower facilities, instructor-led classes in Pilates, Step, Yoga and Tai-chi, and an all-weather soccer field, outdoor running track and mountain bike trails); employee lounge (with comfortable seating, fireplace, music, television, video games, pool table, foosbal table, table hockey, table tennis and board games); religious observance room; onsite cafeteria (with free coffee or tea, outdoor patio and healthy and special diet menu options); secure bicycle parking; transit subsidies; and a large selection of restaurants and cafes on campus and within walking distance.
Rating: AWork Atmosphere & Communications
Simon Fraser University's work atmosphere is rated as above-average. Throughout the year, employees enjoy business casual dress; casual dress daily; can listen to music while working; can bring pets to work when needed; employee sports teams. The University hosts a number of social events every year, including employee parties at Christmas, the President's Annual Appreciation Barbeque and Picnic, an annual Retirement Tea and Dinner, employee recognition events, monthly departmental birthday lunches and an annual departmental reception hosted at the President's residence. SFU keeps employees up-to-date and encourages feedback through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site.
Rating: AFinancial Benefits & Compensation
Simon Fraser University'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. In addition to competitive compensation, Simon Fraser University offers defined benefit pension with employer contributions (up to 12.7% of salary); defined contribution pension plan with employer contributions (up to 10% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance.
Rating: A+Health & Family-Friendly Benefits
Simon Fraser University's health and family benefits are rated as exceptional. The University has separate health plans for its faculty, administrative and professional as well as its union employee groups. The plans are managed by Pacific Blue Cross, Manulife Financial and Industrial Alliance Pacific. Most SFU employees receive the following coverages. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 35 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 ($300 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. Simon Fraser University's family-friendly benefits include: maternity top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 37 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 100% of salary for 37 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 100% of salary for 37 weeks); health benefits during maternity and parental leave; offsite daycare subsidy to $1,816 per child; subsidized onsite daycare; onsite daycare centre; with 284 spaces; 60 childcare workers; and a 18 month waiting list for available spaces. While open to the community at large, SFU employees receive priority status at the onsite daycare facility. As part of the new "UniverCity" new-urbanist development surrounding the university, additional daycare and a centrally located elementary school are being developed. Additional family-friendly benefits include; compassionate top-up payment (to 100% of salary for 1 week) while caring for a family member; flexible working hours; telecommuting; 35-hour work week (with full pay); shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); compressed work week; earned days off (EDO) program; phased-in retirement work options.
Rating: AVacation & Personal Time-Off
Simon Fraser University's 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 10 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation each year. During the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 3 days off. Employees receive 130 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. (Some employees start at 4 weeks paid vacation).
Rating: B+Employee Engagement
Simon Fraser University's employee engagement program is rated as very good. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months. Exit interview provided for departing employees. (Faculty employees participate in a peer review process); Simon Fraser University sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 12 months).
Rating: A+Training & Skills Development
Simon Fraser University'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 having tuition fees waived for SFU courses, the University also supports ongoing career development with subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house apprenticeship and skilled trades programs; in-house training programs; online training programs; formal mentoring program; career planning services; new employee orientation program.
Rating: B+Community Involvement
Simon Fraser University's community involvement program is rated as very good. In addition to its role in the community, the University supports a variety of local charitable initiatives every year. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. Employees receive paid time off to volunteer with their favourite charitable organizations. Last year, employees donated over 150 hours volunteering with charitable projects. The University and its employees (and students) support the annual United Way campaign, the Annual Campus Community Bursary Fund, the Student Food Bank, the Multicultural Canada Conference, and the Spring Garden Sale for Student Bursaries (the popular spring sale was initiated by a group of employee volunteers), to name a few.
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