What is the link between how employers treat their people and how they engage with the community?
More than 50 percent of this year's top employers in Nova Scotia have implemented initiatives that provide paid time for employees to volunteer, with most offering a minimum of two days, according to Kristina Leung, managing editor of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project.
“This trend is unique to the region and reflects the strong sense of community found at Nova Scotia's Top Employers,” Leung says.
“There is a strong connection between how employers treat their people and how they engage with the broader community,” says Richard Yerema, executive editor of the project.
Top employer Emera annually backs around 1,000 local and national charitable organizations. Employees can benefit from matching donations and volunteer hours, with the company contributing up to $600 for every 30 hours volunteered.
Fleetway, on the other hand, focuses its charitable support on health and environmental initiatives. The company encourages employee giving by matching employee donations dollar-for-dollar, with a maximum matching limit set at $1,000 per year.
“The best employers recognize they are often central in providing meaningful opportunities for employees to help out in the wider community. This creates a win-win situation for everyone, with employers creating the conditions for employees to help their neighbors in meaningful ways,” Yerema adds.
Beyond community engagement, this year's winners have demonstrated a commitment to family-friendly policies, extending benefits to all categories of parents.
Case in point, Crombie REIT supports new and adoptive parents with top-up payments, providing up to 80 percent of their salary for 26 weeks. Additionally, the company offers ten paid personal days to assist with family commitments. Another company, CBCL, offers tuition subsidies for job-related courses and academic scholarships for employees' children, covering up to $1,000 per child for post-secondary studies.
Moreover, many of this year’s top employers offer flexible work options, allowing their employees to have a balance between their personal and professional commitments.
Doctors Nova Scotia provides its employees with a starting vacation allowance of three weeks and offers additional paid time off during both summer and winter. Meanwhile, Dash Hudson extends hybrid work options to eligible employees, allowing them the flexibility to work remotely outside their province or country for a specified duration.
The complete list of Nova Scotia's Top Employers for 2023 is available to read online.
