Toronto Hydro Corporation

Toronto Hydro's physical workplace is rated as average. Toronto Hydro's head office is located in a recently renovated building that was originally constructed in 1932 and features a vintage art deco exterior design. Interestingly, the facade of the building is built from limestone quarried from Queenston, where much of the electricity this utility sells is also generated. While most of the company's employees work outside the head office in service depots or maintenance yards, head office employees enjoy easy access to the subway, and hundreds of shops and restaurants within walking distance to the downtown location. The head office also features an onsite fitness facility (with treadmills, stairmasters, weights and shower facilities); employee lounge (with comfortable seating, television and table tennis); religious observance room; onsite cafeteria (with healthy menus); secure bicycle parking; shower facilities for bicycle commuters; onsite credit union; energy efficient lighting throughout; self-serve lunchroom; and just a two minute walk to Tim Hortons, Second Cup and Starbucks.

Toronto Hydro's work atmosphere is rated as exceptional. Depending on their position, employees enjoy business casual dress; casual dress daily; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams; organized social events. The employee-led social committee (called the Toronto Hydro Club) has operated since 1961. The employee committee organizes a family Christmas party every year with over 1,800 guests in attendance. The company also hosts an annual banquet to honour long-serving employees. In addition to sponsoring its own employee hockey team, the company also has an employee-led golf association that was established in 1923 and boasts over 60 members today. Employees are kept up-to-date and can provide direct feedback through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; email suggestion box.

Toronto Hydro's 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. In addition to competitive compensation (determined through salary surveys and the collective bargaining process, depending on the position), Toronto Hydro also provides signing bonuses for some employees; defined benefit pension with employer contributions (up to 7.4% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; new "Gain Sharing" program for some unionized personnel; discounted banking fees through member credit union; discounts on volume purchases of TTC passes; year-end bonuses for some employees.

Toronto Hydro's health and family benefits are rated as exceptional. Toronto Hydro's health benefits plan is managed by Manulife Financial. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 20 hours per week receive coverage. 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 ($375 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance; healthclub subsidy (to $450 each year). (The health club subsidy ranges up to $1,600, depending on the position). Toronto Hydro's family-friendly benefits include: fertility treatments; maternity top-up payments (to 95% of salary for 52 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 95% of salary for 37 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 95% of salary for 37 weeks); health benefits during maternity and parental leave; extended unpaid parental leave option (beyond the first year). Additional family-friendly benefits include: compassionate top-up payment (to 95% of salary for 8 weeks) while caring for a family member; flexible working hours; telecommuting; 35-hour work week (with full pay); compressed work week; The public utility also offers a self-funded extended leave program, which lets employees work for two years at 80% of salary and then enjoy a six-month paid leave while receiving the deferred portion of their salary (also 80% of salary). Employees can also arrange to work four years and take a full year off while receiving their deferred pay.

Toronto Hydro'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 3 personal days off each year, as needed. Employees receive 16 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. Employees can also take advantage of a self-funded leave program.

Toronto Hydro's employee engagement program is rated as 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. As part of its performance review process, Toronto Hydro awards individual employees and employee teams with special lunches and dinners. Toronto Hydro sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 1 month); Toronto Hydro hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 36 months).

Toronto Hydro's 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. (Employers cover up to 100% of non-related tuition). In addition to full tuition subsidies, Toronto Hydro offers subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house apprenticeship and skilled trades programs; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; formal mentoring program; career planning services; new employee orientation program; and formal management training program.

Toronto Hydro's community involvement program is rated as exceptional. Toronto Hydro actively supports a variety of local charitable initiatives. 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 115 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. Employees at Toronto Hydro have operated the "Employee Charitable Trust Foundation" since 1950, which supports over 100 community initiatives each year. The company provides automatic payroll deductions and absorbs the administration costs for the Foundation. Last year, the Foundation supported the United Way, the White Ribbon Campaign, One-on-One Mentoring, and school science fairs across Toronto, to name a few. Toronto Hydro recently introduced a new program (called Brighter Days) to encourage employees to volunteer in their communities. Through this initiative, the company: donates money (to $100 each year) to charities where employees volunteer; provides fundraising prizes for community raffles; and offers financial assistance (to $100) to help employees obtain coaching certifications for children's sports teams.

Toronto Hydro and its employees have also been leading the charge to reduce energy consumption and minimize its own carbon footprint. The utility (with employee support) has introduced numerous initiatives over the years, including: extensive recycling programs (from office waste to electrical transformers); converting truck in its fleet to bio-diesel; utilizing hybrids and small vehicles where possible; switching to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper products; and support for wind and solar power generation projects.