Shell Canada Limited

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 memberships, 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 couches, fireplace, music, television); nap room; religious observance room; secure bicycle parking; organized car pools; nearby public transit; outdoor deck (used for many non-work related events); kitchen areas on every floor with free coffee and tea.

Shell Canada's work atmosphere is rated as very good. 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 organizes 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 signing bonuses for some employees; new employee referral bonuses (to $4,000 for some positions); year-end bonuses for all employees; year-end bonuses (to $103,500); share-purchase plan for all employees; defined benefit pension with employer contribution (up to 16.7% of salary); defined contribution pension plan with employer contribution (up to 6% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; discounted company products (5% off gas 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 above-average. Shell Canada's health benefits plan is managed by Manulife Financial. The health benefits plan is available to part-time employees is flexible, meaning that employees can tailor individual plans to their personal circumstances. Depending on the level of coverage selected, Shell Canada pays for 25% or 75% of the premiums associated with the plan. The health plan is a flexible plan with adjustable premiums and coverage levels. There is no waiting period before coverage begins. 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 ($100 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance; healthclub subsidy ($200 each year). The benefits plan also includes a unique healthcare spending account to pay for expenses not covered under the regular benefit plan. At the beginning of each year, the company deposits $500 into each employee's account, which can be used to pay nearly any health or medical expense incurred during the year. (Employees can choose to receive an additional $2,000 through an enhanced flexible plan.) Shell Canada's family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 6 weeks); pre-arranged emergency short-term daycare. Shell Canada also maintains a program to assit employees in finding daycare centres, nursery schools, retirement residences and elder care services anywhere across the country. 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; earned days off (EDO) program; phased-in retirement; job-sharing.

Shell Canada's vacation and personal time-off are rated as exceptional. 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. Shell Canada considers previous work experience when setting annual vacation for new employees. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. (Personal days off are dependent on location.).

Shell Canada's employee engagement program is rated as exceptional. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 4 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. 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 above-average. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (The employer subsidizes up to 75% of tuition). In addition to tuition subsidies, Shell Canada provides subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; formal mentoring program; new employee orientation program; formal mangement 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 and national charitable initiatives. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. Employees also receive 3 paid days off to volunteer. Last year, employees donated over 4,200 hours volunteering with charitable projects. Approximately 1,060 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.