Chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2012, Top Employers for Canadians Over 40 for 2011, Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers for 2012 and Saskatchewan's Top Employers for 2012:
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors
(
Oct 6, 2011)
Some of the reasons why SGI 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 26 weeks) as well as extended health coverage during their leave
invests in ongoing employee development through subsidies for tuition and professional accreditation, financial bonuses for some course completion, and even manages an academic scholarship for children of employees who pursue post-secondary education (to $2,500 per child)
helps employees prepare for life after work through retirement planning assistance, informal phased-in retirement program and employer contributions to a defined contribution pension plan
considers previous work experience when setting vacation entitlements for experience candidates and provides up to six weeks paid vacation for long serving employees
offers compassionate leave top-up payments to employees who are called upon to care for a family member (to 100% of salary for 6 weeks)
Employer Background
Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is a provider of property and casualty insurance products and services.
SGI manages the Saskatchewan Auto Fund, which is the province's central auto insurance program, which includes the driver's licensing and vehicle registration programs. Established in 1945, the highly successful Auto Fund is financially self-sustaining business that operates on a break-even basis, over time. The Auto Fund does not receive money from the Provincial government, nor is required to pay dividends, and offer residents some of the lowest and most stable auto insurance rates in the country. In addition to its Regina head office, SGI operates claims centres across the province and works with a network of independent insurance brokers and about motor licence issuers. The Crown corporation also sells property and casualty insurance products for home, farm and business customers outside of the province through its SGI Canada division. The division serves customers across Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. SGI Canada also has offices in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto (Coachman Insurance Company) and Charlottetown (Insurance Company of Prince Edward Island).
Industry: Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers.
Established: 1945.
Major Canadian hiring locations: Saskatoon SK.
Revenues: $1,536 million.
Full-time employees in Canada: 1,722.
Full-time at this location: 790.
Part-time employees in Canada: 194.
New jobs created in Canada last year: 12.
Voluntary employee turnover last year: 3.25%.
Longest serving employee: 45 years.
Workforce engaged on a contract basis: 8%.
Number of applications received at this location last year: 8,876.
Percentage of employees who are women: 58.9%.
Of managers: 50.8%.
Of directors: 8.3%.
Percentage of employees who are visible minorities: 6.3%.
Of managers: 4%.
Average age of all employees: 44.4.
Percentage of employees who are aboriginals: 11.5%.
Of managers: 5%.
Rating: APhysical Workplace
SGI's physical workplace is rated as above-average. The company's head office is located in downtown Regina, close to public transit, recreation centres, shopping malls and a farmer's market in the summer. Employees can easily walk to the city's trendy Cathedral Area that offers great cafés and restaurants or make their way to the walking pathways that wind around Wascana Lake. Inside, the head office features an employee lounge (with comfortable seating and panoramic views of the surrounding Queen City); nap room; religious observance room; onsite cafeteria (with healthy menus and subsidized meals); all-weather walking access to nearby food court; secure bicycle parking; free onsite parking for management (a taxable benefit); car pool sign-up system.
Rating: AWork Atmosphere & Communications
SGI's work atmosphere is rated as above-average. Throughout the year, employees enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams; organized social events. Every year, employees enjoy a number of social events, including summer barbeques, a banquet to celebrate long-serving employeees, employee holiday lunches at Christmas and a special family Christmas Carnival for employees and their children. SGI keeps employees informed about new developments and encourages feedback through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; email suggestion box.
Rating: B+Financial Benefits & Compensation
SGI's financial benefits are rated as very good. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 6 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. In addition to competitive compensation, Saskatchewan Government Insurance offers defined contribution pension plan with employer contributions (up to 5.5% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; discounted rates (10%) on SGI home and auto insurance policies.
Rating: AHealth & Family-Friendly Benefits
SGI's health and family benefits are rated as above-average. SGI has separate health benefits plans for employees and management level employees. The plans vary slightly and are both managed by Great-West Life with the employer paying 100% of the premiums and both plans offering the following minimums. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. 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 ($175 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance; healthclub subsidy (to $250 each year). SGI's family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 26 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 100% of salary for 26 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 100% of salary for 26 weeks); health benefits during maternity and parental leave. 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; informal phased-in retirement program.
Rating: BVacation & Personal Time-Off
SGI'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 10 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation each year. Employees can schedule 1 personal day off each year, as needed. Employees receive 12 paid sick days every year. In addition to the personal day, the company does offer additional paid time-off to attend to family and personal matters, as determined on a case-by-case basis. (Management employees receive up to 15 personal days off each year.).
Rating: B+Employee Engagement
SGI's employee engagement program is rated as very good. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months. Exit interview provided for departing employees; SGI sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 6 months); SGI hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 36 months).
Rating: A+Training & Skills Development
SGI'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 generous tuition subsidies, the company 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; financial bonuses for professional course completions (to $400).
Rating: ACommunity Involvement
SGI's community involvement program is rated as above-average. Saskatchewan Government Insurance supports a variety of local charitable initiatives every year. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. Approximately 224 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. As part of its corporate giving program, SGI dedicates approximately $500,000 for charitable support every year, focusing on diversity, youth, traffic safety, crime prevention, fire prevention, sports, special Saskatchewan-base events, arts and culture, health, environment, business and education issues. Last year, the company and its employees supported the Canadian Cancer Society, Santas Anonymous, Canadian Blood Services, Play it Safe Day (co-sponsored by the Saskatchewan Roughriders), and Kids Help Phone, to name a few. In addition, the company recently established a "Community Action Team" that includes employee representatives from across the company that meets regularly with the company's corporate relations department to review, inestigate and suggest where 10% of overall donations dollars should be directed each year.
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