Chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2012, Top Employers for Canadians Over 40 for 2011 and Hamilton-Niagara's Top Employers for 2012:
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors
(
Oct 6, 2011)
Some of the reasons why Siemens was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2012:
provides maternity leave top-up payments (to 70% of salary for 6 weeks) for new mothers (depending on their position), and extends health benefit coverage throughout the duration of their leave
invests in ongoing employee development with tuition subsidies for job-related courses, financial bonuses for some course completion and subsidies for professional accreditation
also manages a variety of training initiatives including a formal mentoring program, leadership training and in-house and online courses
offers great financial benefits including signing bonuses for some positions, referral bonuses, and lets everyone share in the company's success with profit-sharing and a share purchase plan available to all
in addition, operates an employee suggestion program that encourages employees to share their feedback -- the ideas that lead to savings or new revenues are evaluated for their impact and can lead to financial bonus payments ranging up to $100,000
starts new employees at three weeks of paid vacation as well as personal paid days off which employees can use as needed
Employer Background
Siemens Canada Limited is a subsidiary of Germany-based Siemens AG, which is one of the largest and most diversified electronics and electrical engineering companies in the world, serving the industry, energy and healthcare sectors.
The publicly-traded parent company is one of the largest employers in the world with over 400,000 employees worldwide. Established in Canada in 1912, Siemens manufactures and supplies a range automation systems and equipment to the manufacturing, transportation, construction and energy industries. The company also develops state-of-the-art imaging and diagnostic systems for hospitals and healthcare providers across Canada. The diversity of the company's expertise is truly impressive, from the massive wind farm project in Chatham-Kent, Ontario to communiciation and signaling systems for GO Transit to new laboratory systems for Brant Community Healthcare.
Industry: Engineering Services.
Publicly traded.
Established: 1912.
Parent company: Siemens AG (Munich, Germany).
Major Canadian hiring locations: Calgary AB, Edmonton AB, Vancouver BC, Winnipeg MB, Moncton NB, St. John's NL, Halifax NS, Ajax ON, Hamilton ON, Kingston ON, Kirkland Lake ON, Kitchener ON, London ON, Mississauga ON, Ottawa ON, Peterborough ON, Sarnia ON, Thunder Bay ON, Toronto ON, Windsor ON, Montréal QC, Québec QC, Saskatoon SK, Burlington ON, Stoney Creek ON, Dartmouth NS, Drummonville QC, Cambridge ON.
Full-time employees in Canada: 4,770.
Full-time at this location: 400.
Full-time worldwide: 405,000.
Part-time employees in Canada: 33.
New jobs created in Canada last year: 386.
Voluntary employee turnover last year: 5%.
Longest serving employee: 45 years.
Workforce engaged on a contract basis: 3.4%.
Number of applications received at this location last year: 10,625.
Percentage of employees who are women: 24.2%.
Of managers: 17.8%.
Of directors: 25%.
Average age of all employees: 43.
Rating: APhysical Workplace
Siemens' physical workplace is rated as above-average. Located in Mississauga, Siemens' modern head office building offers convenient highway access and is only a short drive to Pearson International Airport. Inside, the head office features an employee lounge (with comfortable seating, video games, fireplace, massage chairs, candy bowls and television); onsite cafeteria (with healthy menus and subsidized meals, free coffee and tea, and an outdoor patio); free parking.
Rating: B+Work Atmosphere & Communications
Siemens' work atmosphere is rated as very good. Employees at their head office enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays. Across the company, social events are organized by groups and departments, and include holiday celebrations throughout the year and summer barbecues. During the holiday season, Siemens invites all employees and their families to a special children's Christmas party, which is the primary company-wide event of the year. Siemens keeps employees up-to-date and gathers feedback through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; email suggestion box.
Rating: AFinancial Benefits & Compensation
Siemens' 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. Siemens also provides signing bonuses for some employees; new employee referral bonuses (to $1,000 for some positions); share-purchase plan for all employees; profit-sharing plan for all employees; defined contribution pension plan with employer contributions (up to 2% of salary); matching RSP contributions; life & disability insurance; subsidized home Internet access; suggestion program with cash bonuses for implemented ideas (with payouts up to $100,000).
Rating: BHealth & Family-Friendly Benefits
Siemens' health and family benefits are rated as average. Siemens' health benefits plan is managed by Sun Life and Green Shield. Depending on the plan level selected, the plan may cover up to 100% of the premiums. The health plan is a flexible plan with adjustable premiums and coverage levels. Employees who work 30 hours per week receive coverage. There is no waiting period before coverage begins. Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; eyecare ($150 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. The company's family-friendly benefits include; fertility treatments; maternity top-up payments (to 70% of salary for 6 weeks); health benefits during maternity and parental leave; extended unpaid parental leave option (beyond the first year). Depending on their position, Siemens provides maternity leave top-up benefits to 100% of salary for up to 6 weeks for some employees. Additional family friendly benefits include; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); reduced summer hours program.
Rating: BVacation & Personal Time-Off
Siemens' vacation and personal time-off are rated as average. New employees receive 3 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Vacation increases after 5 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation each year. Employees can schedule 4 personal days off each year, as needed. Employees receive 3 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.
Rating: AEmployee Engagement
Siemens' employee engagement program is rated as above-average. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 months. 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 interview provided for departing employees. Siemens recognizes exceptional performance through special 'achievement awards that include non-monetary gifts that are tailored to an employee's interests, from weekend getaways to restaurant meals. Employees may also recevieve cash bonuses for their performance as well as for their suggestions through the unique "3i Employee Suggestion Program" -- great ideas that lead to savings or new revenues are evaluated for their impact and can lead to financial bonus payments that could range up to $100,000. Siemens sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 12 months); Siemens hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).
Rating: ATraining & Skills Development
Siemens' training and skills development program is rated as above-average. 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. Siemens supports employees' career development with subsidies for professional accreditations; financial bonuses for course completions; in-house apprenticeship and skilled trades programs; in-house training programs; online training programs; formal mentoring program; formal mangement training program. (Financial bonuses for some professional accreditation can range up to one month additional salary.).
Rating: ACommunity Involvement
Siemens' community involvement program is rated as above-average. Every year, Siemens supports a variety of local, national and international charities; 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 1,000 hours volunteering with charitable projects. Approximately 52 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. The company ensures that each office location has at least one employee who participates in the company's "Caring Hands Employee Committee". Each committee works to decide which local charities to support during the year. In a dedicated corporate initiative going back more than a decade, Siemens has raised funds for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation -- donating nearly $1 million in total to cystic fibrosis treatment programs and research projects since the initiative began.
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