University of Toronto students and employees at campus street fair
Chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2012, Top Employers for Canadians Over 40 for 2011 and Greater Toronto's Top Employers for 2012:
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors
(
Oct 6, 2011)
Some of the reasons why University of Toronto was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2012:
in addition to paid time off during the holiday season and personal paid days-off, new employees start at three weeks of paid vacation allowance
supports employees who are new mothers with generous maternity leave top-up payments as well as generous parental leave top-up benefits for new fathers and adoptive parents -- and all programs include same-sex partners
also manages onsite daycare facilities at each campus location, which employees can take advantage of when they are ready to return to work
encourages ongoing employee development through subsidies for tuition and professional accreditation, a range of in-house and online training options, and even manages an academic scholarship program for children of employees who pursue post-secondary education
allows employees to maintain a health balance between work and their personal life through a variety of alternative work options including flexible hours, telecommuting and reduced summer hours
helps employees plan for life after work with phased-in retirement work options, retirement planning assistance, along with generous contributions to a defined benefit pension plan
retiring employees can also take advantage of a health benefits plan that extends into retirement, with no age limit
Employer Background
The University of Toronto is one of Canada's largest research and teaching universities, offering 800 undergraduate fields of study and 400 graduate and professional programs to over 77,000 students.
Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto (UofT) is comprised of 28 academic divisions and colleges, including 14 professional faculties, 10 affiliated teaching hospitals, various research centres, and the country's largest academic library system (and third largest in North America). UofT employs approximately 20,000 full- and part-time faculty and staff, including teaching assistants, summer students, and special project employees. The University maintains three main campuses: the St. George campus located in Toronto, and two suburban campuses located in Scarborough (UTSC) and Mississauga (UTM), respectively. In addition to being the country's largest, the University of Toronto is one of Canada's most distinguished academic institutions, counting six Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni.
Industry: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools.
Established: 1827.
Major Canadian hiring locations: Mississauga ON, Scarborough ON.
Revenues: $2,210 million.
Full-time employees in Canada: 8,458.
Part-time employees in Canada: 9,665.
New jobs created in Canada last year: 58.
Voluntary employee turnover last year: 3.6%.
Longest serving employee: 55 years.
Workforce engaged on a contract basis: 11%.
Number of applications received at this location last year: 77,367.
Percentage of employees who are women: 53.4%.
Of managers: 53.7%.
Of directors: 44.7%.
Percentage of employees who are visible minorities: 22.2%.
Of managers: 14.8%.
Of directors: 5.7%.
Average age of all employees: 46.
Percentage of employees who are aboriginals: .7%.
Of managers: .4%.
Rating: A+Physical Workplace
University of Toronto's physical workplace is rated as exceptional. The University's main campus (St. George) offers students a unique setting of old and new in downtown Toronto, featuring architecturally historic buildings alongside state-of-the-art research facilities. The two suburban campuses are situated in a parkland, allowing employees to enjoy a natural environment. The downtown campus is easily accessible by subway and streetcar while the Mississauga campus offers regular shuttle buses downtown. U of T's main office is located in Simcoe Hall, in the midst of King's College Circle and within walking distance of Chinatown, Kensington Market, Queen's Park, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Royal Ontario Museum. The University recently completed renovations on the Royal Conservatory of Music. The main campus features an onsite fitness facility (with stationary bikes, stairmasters, rowing machines, weights, basketball court, gymnasiums, indoor running track, tennis courst, squash courts, swimming pools, shower facilities, sauna, instructor-led fitness classes, and the historic Varsity skating rink with scheduled skating hours for members); employee lounge (with comfortable seating, television, fireplace, pool table, table tennis, board games, music and the historic Hart House); religious observance room; onsite cafeteria (with multiple locations offering healthy and special diet menus); onsite Tim Hortons, Starbucks and Second Cup coffee shops; secure bicycle parking; outdoor patio / deck; and a self-serve lunchroom.
Rating: B+Work Atmosphere & Communications
University of Toronto's work atmosphere is rated as very good. Employees at the University enjoy business casual dress; casual dress daily; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams. Social committees are run on a campus by campus basis. The faculty staff newspaper "The Bulletin" sponsors quarterly breakfasts for employees and features "topic of the day" discussions, enabling employees to socialize, mingle and converse. The University also honours Black History Month with a luncheon celebrating Caribbean and African heritage. During the summer, the downtown and Mississauga campuses host "flicks on the field", screening family-friendly movies outdoors with complimentary popcorn. Employees can stay up-to-date through U of T's company newsletter; corporate intranet site; email suggestion box.
Rating: AFinancial Benefits & Compensation
University of Toronto'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 ensuring competitive compensation (determined also through the collective bargaining process for union employees), the University provides signing bonuses for some employees; defined benefit pension with employer contributions (up to 16% of salary); matching RSP contributions (up to 5% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; discounted computer software; discounted home and auto insurance; discounted TTC Metropass; and matching RSP contributions for contractual employees (to 5% of salary).
Rating: AHealth & Family-Friendly Benefits
University of Toronto's health and family benefits are rated as above-average. The University's health benefits plan is managed by Green Shield Canada. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 75% of the premiums. Employees who work 9 hours per week receive coverage. The waiting period for new employees is 30 days. 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 ($250 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. The University operates work-life programs to assist employees in creating a balance between their work and personal life. Programs include sessions on work-life balance and stress management, and enable employees to create flexible work options. U of T's family-friendly benefits include; fertility treatments; maternity top-up payments (to 95% of salary for 28 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 95% of salary for 10 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 95% of salary for 18 weeks); health benefits during maternity and parental leave; extended unpaid parental leave option (beyond the first year); subsidized onsite daycare; onsite daycare centre; with 309 spaces; 59 childcare workers; and a 12 month waiting list for available spaces; pre-arranged emergency short-term daycare. (Note: All of UoT's maternity and parental leave top-up benefits apply to same-sex partners). The University also provides a fully paid leave benefit for new fathers / same-sex partners (100% for up to 5 days). For its faculty employees, U of T offers additional leave benefits, including maternity leave top-up (95% for 30 weeks) and adoptive leave top-up (95% of salary for 27 weeks). Additional family-friendly benefits include; post-secondary academic scholarships for children of employees; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); reduced summer hours program; compressed work week; phased-in retirement work options; and compassionate care leave top-up payments (to EI equivalent for 2 weeks). Dependents of unionized and non-unionized administrative and technical staff are eligible for a 100% tuition waiver.
Rating: B+Vacation & Personal Time-Off
University of Toronto's vacation and personal time-off are rated as very good. New employees receive 3 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 5 weeks of vacation each year. Employees can schedule 4 personal days off each year, as needed. Employees receive 3 personal days off, as scheduled by their employer. During the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 5 days off. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. (Vacation varies by employee group, with some employees starting at 4 weeks of paid vacation after their first year).
Rating: AEmployee Engagement
University of Toronto's employee engagement program is rated as above-average. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 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. The University honours the exceptional performance of employees through several award programs. The special recognition program allows individual managers to recognize significant contributions made by professional and managerial staff with monetary and non-monetary awards. The excellence through innovation award recognizes outstanding contributions towards strategic objectives and recipients are invited to the President's house for a formal reception. Faculty are acknowledged through staff, teaching, and research awards, and administrative staff receive the Chancellor's award for outstanding service.
Rating: A+Training & Skills Development
University of Toronto's training and skills development program is rated as exceptional. 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 tuition subsidies, the University offers subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; formal mentoring program; career planning services; new employee orientation program; formal mangement training program; and career planning services. The University also provides over 50 online computer training courses and recently expanded the number of in-house training programs due to employee demand.
Rating: ACommunity Involvement
University of Toronto's community involvement program is rated as above-average. The University and its employees actively support a variety of local, national and international charitable initiatives. Each year, employees (and students) raise money and awareness for numerous charitable causes. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. In a longstanding relationsship, UofT employees volunteered and raised money for the annual United Way campaign, raising nearly $1 million for the annual campaign. To encourage employees and faculty to reach out into the community, the faculty and staff newspaper "The Bulletin" also features an ongoing series entitled "U of T Volunteers" which celebrates volunteers within the university community.
This Employer Review has been viewed 70,359 times.
