Chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers, Saskatchewan's Top Employers and Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers for 2010:
By Richard Yerema and Rachel Caballero, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 2, 2009)
Some of the reasons why SGI was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2010:
offers generous parental leave top-up benefits (to 100% for 26 weeks) for mothers, fathers and adoptive parents
helps employees plan for retirement with a defined contribution pension plan and an informal phased-in retirement program
provides employees with an interest-free loan (up to $3,000) towards the purchase of a new home computer
offers employees a compassionate leave top-up payment (to 100% for 6 weeks)
pays generous tuition subsidies for employees taking courses at outside institutions
continues to expand into new markets across Canada, serving customers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta
Employer Background
Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) provides 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 20 claims centres across the province and works with a network of almost 300 independent insurance brokers and about 450 motor licence issuers.
In addition, the Crown Corporation 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 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: Regina SK. Revenues: $1,241 million. Full-Time Employees in Canada: 1,699. Full-Time at this location: 801. Part-Time employees in Canada: 174. New jobs created in Canada last year: 49. Voluntary employee turnover last year: 9.2%. Longest serving employee: 42 years. Number of applications received at this location last year: 10,682. Percentage of employees who are women: 59%. Of managers: 43%. Percentage of employees who are visible minorities: 5%. Of managers: 2%. Average age of all employees: 43.
Rating: B+Physical Workplace
SGI's physical workplace is rated as very good. 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); onsite cafeteria (with healthy menus); all-weather walking access to nearby food court; free onsite parking (a taxable benefit); car pool sign-up system.
Rating: B+Work Atmosphere & Communications
SGI's work atmosphere is rated as very good. Throughout the year, employees enjoy casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; 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 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 signing bonuses for some employees; defined contribution pension plan with employer contribution (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. 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 ($225 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. 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). Additional family-friendly benefits include; compassionate top-up payment (to 100% of salary for 6 weeks) while caring for a family member; flexible working hours; earned days off (EDO) program; 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. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. 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. Managers receive training in how to conduct effective performance reviews. As part of the review process employees can provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance. 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 24 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. (The employer subsidizes up to 100% of tuition). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (The employer subsidizes up to 100% of non-related tuition). In addition to generous tuition subsidies, the company also provides 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; 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. Employees receive paid time off to volunteer with their favourite charitable organizations. Approximately 301 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.
