Trican Well Service Ltd.

Trican's physical workplace is rated as very good. Trican's head office occupies three floors of an office tower in downtown Calgary. Inside, the head office features an onsite fitness facility (with free memberships, flexible hours, treadmills, stationary bikes, shower facilities, instructor-led yoga classes, stairmasters, rowing machines, weights); employee lounge (with table hockey, couches, television); concierge services available; onsite cafeteria (marche-style with healthy menus); free coffee or tea; self-serve lunchroom; secure bicycle parking; C-Train transit stop at the front door; and shower facilities in the fitness centre for employees who ride their bikes to work.

Trican's work atmosphere is rated as very good. Throughout the year, employees enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; organized social events. The employee social committee organizes a number of events each year, including a Christmas party, ski trip, hockey tournament and, of course, their own Calgary Stampede party in celebration of the city's unique renowned rodeo. Trican keep employees informed through a company newsletter.

Trican'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, Trican also provides new employee referral bonuses (to $1,000 for some positions); share-purchase plan for all employees; profit-sharing plan for all employees; matching RSP contributions (up to 5% of salary); life & disability insurance; discounts on home computers; discounts on a Costco membership; preferred rates for mortgages and personal loans with RBC; preferred pricing at the Brick furniture stores, and GM and Ford auto dealerships.

Trican's health and family benefits are rated as above-average. The company's health benefits plan is managed by Great West Life. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. 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 health plan also includes retiree coverage up to 65 years of age. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; orthodontics; eyecare ($200 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. Trican's family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 52 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 100% of salary for 36 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 100% of salary for 36 weeks). Additional family friendly benefits include; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); phased-in retirement.

Trican's vacation and personal time-off are rated as average. New employees receive 2 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Vacation increases after 10 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 5 weeks of vacation each year. Employees receive 1 personal day off, as scheduled by their employer. Employees receive 7 paid sick days every year. Trican considers previous work experience when setting annual vacation for new employees. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.

Trican's employee engagement program is rated as very good. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months. Managers receive training in how to conduct effective performance reviews. As part of the review process employees can provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance. As part of their annual review, employees are asked to provide a written assessment of their manager's performance. In recognition of safe work performance, employees earn points for maintaining and exceeding established safety standards that can be used to purchase gifts of their choosing. Trican sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 36 months).

Trican's training and skills development program is rated as very good. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (The employer subsidizes up to 100% of tuition). Trican also supports ongoing employee career development with subsidies for professional accreditations; 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.

Trican's community involvement program is rated as very good. Trican supports a variety of local and national 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 4 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. Last year, the company and its employees hosted a variety of fundraising activities in support of the United Way campaign (raising over $131,000), the Easter Seals and the Adopt-a-Family initiative at Christmas (raising over $3,000 for three families). In support of higher education, Trican recently donated funds for the establishment of the new Trican Petroleum Engineering Laboratory at the University of Calgary's Schulich School of Engineering.