Chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and Greater Toronto's Top Employers for 2010:
By Richard Yerema and Rachel Caballero, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 2, 2009)
Some of the reasons why Siemens was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2010:
helps employees plan for retirement, offering a defined contribution pension plan and matching RSP contributions
supports ongoing employee development, paying one month's salary as a financial bonus to employees who complete their professional project management designation
manages an array of training options, including formal mentoring programs and career planning advice, to help employees advance their careers
pays referral bonuses (up to $2000) to employees who recommend someone who is hired by the company
provide maternity leave top-up benefits to new mothers (to 70% of salary for 6 weeks)
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 approximately 427,000 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 communciation and signaling systems for GO Transit to new laboratory systems for Brant Community Healthcare.
Industry: Engineering Services.
Stock symbol: *Stock symbol: [+].
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: 4,218.
Full-time at this location: 264.
Full-time worldwide: 427,000.
Part-Time employees in Canada: 30.
Voluntary employee turnover last year: 12%.
Longest serving employee: 42 years.
Workforce engaged on a contract basis: 3%.
Number of applications received at this location last year: 4,361.
Percentage of employees who are women: 30%.
Of managers: 21%.
Percentage of employees who are visible minorities: 16%.
Of managers: 16%.
Average age of all employees: 42.
Rating: B+Physical Workplace
Siemens' physical workplace is rated as very good. 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 music and television); onsite cafeteria (with healthy menus and subsidized meals); free coffee and tea; outdoor patio; wireless access throughout the building; free parking.
Rating: BWork Atmosphere & Communications
Siemens' work atmosphere is rated as average. 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, the only 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 new employee referral bonuses (to $2,000 for some positions); year-end bonuses for all employees; year-end bonuses (to $50,000); share-purchase plan for all employees; defined contribution pension plan with employer contribution (up to 2% of salary); matching RSP contributions; life & disability insurance; discounts on home computers; discounted auto lease rates.
Rating: B+Health & Family-Friendly Benefits
Siemens' health and family benefits are rated as very good. Siemens' health benefits plan is managed by Sun Life Financial, AIG and Green Shield. The health plan is a flexible plan with adjustable premiums and coverage levels. Employees who work 24 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; maternity top-up payments (to 70% of salary for 6 weeks). 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; 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 10 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 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. Siemens recognizes exceptional performance with gifts (such as weekend trips, meals, entertainment vouchers), bonuses, and cash rewards. Siemens sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 24 months); Siemens hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).
Rating: A+Training & Skills Development
Siemens' 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. Siemens supports employees' career development with subsidies for professional accreditations; financial bonuses for course completions; in-house apprenticeship and skilled trades internships; in-house training programs; online training programs; formal mentoring program; new employee orientation program; formal mangement training program. (Financial bonuses for some professional accreditations 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, the company supported the Salvation Army, Make-A-Wish Canada, the otanabee Region Conservation Foundation Trees Project, the Peterborough Kiwanis Music Festival and the United Way, to name a few. For over 12 years, Siemens has raised funds for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation -- donating nearly $1 million in total to cystic fibrosis treatment programs and research projects.
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