Chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers 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 World Vision Canada was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2012:
offers maternity and parental leave top-up payments to employees who are new mothers (to 80% of salary for 27 weeks) as well as parental leave top-up payments for new fathers and adoptive parents (to 80% of salary for 12 weeks)
helps employees balance their work and personal life with a variety of alternative work arrangements including flexible hours, shortened and compressed work week options, telecommuting and a formal earned days-off program
encourages ongoing employee development through subsidies for tuition and professional accreditation, a variety of in-house and online training programs, formal mentoring and career planning services
prepares employees for life after work with retirement planning assistance, phased-in retirement work options and contributions to a defined contribution pension plan
Employer Background
World Vision Canada is a Christian-based humanitarian relief, development, and advocacy organization, assisting approximately 100 million people in nearly 100 countries every year.
Established in 1957, the charitable organization's primary objectives are as follows: transformational development that is community-based and sustainable, focusing especially on the needs of children; emergency relief and assisting people afflicted by conflict or disaster; the promotion of justice that seeks to change unjust structures affecting the poor; partnerships with churches to contribute to spiritual and social transformation; and public awareness that leads to informed understanding, giving, involvement, and prayer.
Industry: Other Social Advocacy Organizations.
Established: 1957.
Parent company: World Vision International.
Major Canadian hiring locations: Ottawa ON, Montreal QC.
Revenues: $416 million.
Full-time employees in Canada: 464.
Full-time at this location: 418.
Part-time employees in Canada: 60.
New jobs created in Canada last year: 20.
Voluntary employee turnover last year: 2%.
Longest serving employee: 38 years.
Workforce engaged on a contract basis: 11%.
Number of applications received at this location last year: 8,524.
Percentage of employees who are women: 68%.
Of managers: 56%.
Of directors: 45%.
Percentage of employees who are visible minorities: 41%.
Of managers: 26%.
Of directors: 5%.
Average age of all employees: 42.
Rating: B+Physical Workplace
World Vision Canada's physical workplace is rated as very good. The charitable organization's three storey head office features a one storey auditorium and large skylight, which fills the building with natural light. Located in a suburban environment, the head office is situated within an easy distance of all major highways and offers commuters free onsite parking. Additional features of the head office include an employee lounge (with comfortable seating, television, table tennis and floor to ceiling windows); nap room; religious observance room; secure bicycle parking; free parking; self-serve lunchroom (with microwave, toaster, and refrigerator); free coffee and tea; outdoor patio/deck; and onsite shower facilities. The office is also within minutes of several amenities including Meadowvale Conservation Area, Derrydale Golf Club, LA Fitness, Heartland Mall, and Square One.
Rating: B+Work Atmosphere & Communications
World Vision Canada's work atmosphere is rated as very good. On the job, employees enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working. World Vision Canada also hosts a variety of paid social events including a Christmas celebration, children's Christmas party, summer barbecue picnic with the President and senior leadership, and service awards for staff recognition. Employees are kept up-to-date about company developments and provide direct feedback through frequent lunch and learn sessions; town hall style meetings; President and Vice President's blogs; company newsletter; corporate intranet site; traditional suggestion box; email suggestion box.
Rating: B+Financial Benefits & Compensation
World Vision Canada's financial benefits are rated as very good. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 24 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. In addition to ensuring competitive compensation, World Vision provides defined contribution pension plan with employer contributions (up to 6% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; subsidized home Internet access; computer purchase plan with interest free loans; and discounts on home and auto Insurance, as well as family discounts to area amusement parks, including Great Wolf Lodge, Canda's Wonderland, and Ontario Place.
Rating: AHealth & Family-Friendly Benefits
World Vision Canada's health and family benefits are rated as above-average. World Vision's health benefits plan is managed by Great West Life. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 85% of the premiums. Employees who work 20 hours per week receive coverage. The waiting period for new employees is 90 days. Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; eyecare ($250 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. The organization's family-friendly benefits include; fertility treatments; maternity top-up payments (to 80% of salary for 27 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 80% of salary for 12 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 80% of salary for 12 weeks); health benefits during maternity and parental leave; extended unpaid parental leave option (beyond the first year). Additional family-friendly benefits include; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); compressed work week; earned days off (EDO) program; phased-in retirement work options.
Rating: BVacation & Personal Time-Off
World Vision Canada'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 1 personal day off each year, as needed. Employees receive 10 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.
Rating: B+Employee Engagement
World Vision Canada'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. 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. World Vision also recognizes its longest serving employees through long service awards, starting after five years on the job and every five years of employment thereafter. World Vision Canada sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 12 months).
Rating: ATraining & Skills Development
World Vision Canada'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 50% of non-related tuition). In addition to tuition subsidies, World Vision provides subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; formal mentoring program; career planning services. World Vision implements development plans, allowing employees to identify development opportunities that address current role requirements as well as gaps in current skills, knowledge, and experience needed to prepare employees for future careers within the organization. Development plans are initiated on an annual basis by managers. The organization also provides employees with an opportunity to travel to areas in which World Vision operates to witness the impact of their work.
Rating: A+Community Involvement
World Vision Canada's community involvement program is rated as exceptional. Beyond the organization's raison d'etre, World Vision and its employees actively support a variety of local, national and international charitable organizations. 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 33 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. World Vision participates in training and development with other NGO's, sharing expertise, ideas, and practices. The charitable organization also partners with a number of post-secondary institutions to provide education about international development and operates several community initiatives throughout Canada to combat poverty.
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