Shell Canada's physical workplace is rated as above-average. The work environment at Shell Canada varies with the company's diverse operations across the country. These operations include downtown office buildings, remote exploration sites and refineries. Shell Canada also strives to accommodate the needs of employees with disabilities, adapting workstations, offices and equipment where necessary. The company's head office in downtown Calgary is located in a modern office tower, offering great views of the Bow River and the distant Rocky Mountains as well as being only a short walk to bustling Eau Claire Market that offers a variety of restaurants, entertainment and shopping. Inside, the head office features an onsite fitness facility (with subsidized membership, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, rowing machines, weights, personal trainer, indoor running track, shower facilities, instructor-led classes, such as pilates and yoga); employee lounge (with comfortable seating, fireplace, music, television and board games); nap room; religious observance room; secure bicycle parking; organized car pools; nearby public transit; outdoor deck (used for many non-work related events); ergonomic assessments for employee work stations; kitchen areas on every floor with free coffee and tea.

Shell Canada's work atmosphere is rated as above-average. Head office employees at Shell Canada enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams; organized social events. Shell Canada's company-subsidized social committee (called the Shell Chinook Club), has operated since 1953. Across the company, the committee helps to organize a variety of recreational and social events for employees, including awards banquets, dinners, lunches to reward group accomplishments, safety awards celebrations, a Christmas luncheon, summer barbeques and a traditional Stampede breakfast celebration complete with live entertainment, prizes and breakfast served by company executives. Shell Canada keeps employee up-to-date and captures feedback through quarterly meetings, townhall-style meetings with the President and through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; email suggestion box.

Shell Canada's financial benefits are rated as exceptional. 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, Shell Canada provides share-purchase plan for all employees; signing bonuses for some employees; year-end bonuses for all employees; defined benefit pension plan; defined contribution pension plan; life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; new employee referral bonus; discounts on gasoline purchases; discounted financial services through the Shell Credit Union; retirement planning services. (New employees are enrolled into the defined contribution pension plan and moved to the defined benefit pension plan after ten years of service.).

Shell Canada's health and family benefits are rated as very good. Shell Canada's health benefits plan is managed by Sun Life Financial and is also available to part-time employees. There is no waiting period before coverage begins. Family coverage is available on the health benefits plan. Retiree coverage is also available on the health plan, with no age limit. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; orthodontics; traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; employee assistance (EAP) plan; medical equipment and supplies; physiotherapy; massage therapy; homecare; travel insurance. Shell Canada's family-friendly benefits include: maternity top-up payments; health benefits during maternity and parental leave; extended unpaid parental leave option (beyond the first year). Shell Canada also maintains a program to assist employees in finding daycare centres, nursery schools, retirement residences and elder care services anywhere across the country. Additional family-friendly benefits include; flexible working hours; compressed work week; telecommuting.

Shell Canada'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. Employees can schedule 18 personal days off each year, as needed. In addition to paid vacation, employees receive a number of paid personal days off each year, with the number dependent on position and location. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.

Shell Canada's employee engagement program is rated as above-average. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 months. Informal progress reviews are also held during the year. 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 interviews are provided for departing employees. In addition to the annual review, employees also participate in mid-year progress reviews as well as informal quarterly reviews. The review results help determine annual bonus payments, which are awarded to all regular employees. Employees can also nominate co-workers (or deserving managers) for special recognition awards. These include a variety of tailored awards, from restaurant dinners to weekend getaways in Banff. Shell Canada hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).

Shell Canada's training and skills development program is rated as average. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. In addition to tuition subsidies, Shell Canada provides subsidies for professional accreditations; formal mentoring program; career planning services; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; new employee orientation program; formal management training program; women's career development program; and a head office training centre with five classroom, which is also the home of the Shell University and Learn@Shell programs. In recognition that Shell Canada's employees come from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, the company operates an educational diversity awareness program across all its operating divisions.

Shell Canada's community involvement program is rated as exceptional. Shell Canada actively supports a variety of local, national and international charitable initiatives. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. As part of this program, employees receive 3 paid days off to volunteer. Last year, employees donated over 2,800 hours volunteering with charitable projects. Approximately 800 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. The company's charitable program focuses on three areas: the environment, education and employee volunteerism. Projects range from grassroots campaigns to high-profile environmental and educational initiatives. Shell has developed working partnerships with charitable organizations across the country, including post-secondary institutions and charitable organizations such as the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and the United Way, to name a only a few. Shell Canada also a long history of contributing to charitable projects that make a difference in the communities where it consistently ranks among the country's leading corporate donors. The company has endowed charitable programs, such as the Shell Environmental Fund and the Community Service Fund, to encourage employees to assist public service initiatives in their communities. In addition to receiving up to 3 paid days off for community service, employees can also apply for up to 30 days of unpaid leave to volunteer with their chosen charitable initiative. 2.14.