• Altana Pharma Inc. Oakville-based firm develops and markets a variety of therapeutic medicines for human health. Launched in 1997 with three employees - it has more than 200 today - it offers tuition subsidies of up to $5,000 for courses related to employee positions. New headquarters features comfortable couches in the employee lounge and a fireplace. Provides maternity top-up and flexible work arrangements for employees juggling life and work responsibilities; offers scholarship program for employees' kids pursuing post-secondary studies (http://www.altanapharma.ca).
  • American Express Canada Inc. The company behind the well-known American Express family of charge cards, financial and travel-related services offers long-service employees with paid time off - up to three months at a time - to volunteer at a favourite charity. Markham-based head office features a campus-like setting with an on-site fitness centre as well as an outdoor court for volleyball and basketball. Offers employees five paid personal days off every year in addition to financial benefits, including a pension plan, a share purchase plan and reduced fees on employee credit cards (http://www.americanexpress.ca).
  • Appleby College Oakville independent school serves young men and women from grades seven through 12. Situated on a beautiful 59-acre campus on the shores of Lake Ontario, the college offers its employees free breakfast, lunches and dinners at the cafeteria which serves healthy menu items. Appleby also provides its staff with a free membership to the college's on-site fitness facilities (includes swimming, rock climbing and outdoor beach volleyball courts), makes annual contributions to their pension plan to 8.9 per cent of salary, and offers matching RSP contributions up to 6 per cent of salary. Provides employees with a complimentary laptop computer and software and offers tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions with no annual maximum (http://www.appleby.on.ca).
  • AMAPCEOProvince-wide public sector bargaining agent, the Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario provides up to $600 every year for employees to subsidize fitness and wellness activities. Toronto-based organization offers new mothers an exceptional maternity leave based upon a top-up consisting of 93 per cent of salary for 52 weeks. Employees start at four weeks of vacation after completing their first year of work and are given three paid personal days (http://www.amapceo.on.ca).
  • Bank of MontrealCanada's oldest bank and one of the country's largest employers, creating more than 1,300 new jobs last year, it operates a $50 million training institute that includes a health club and residence for ovenight guests. A workplace diversity pioneer in Canada, Toronto-based bank has incorporated diversity goals into all of its organizational plans. In 1992, BMO established a National Advisory Council on the Equitable Workplace to oversee enterprise wide implementation of all workplace equality initiatives and that same year, it created the Office of Diversity and Workplace Equity. Has a unique online awards program that provides travel awards, gift certificates and merchandise in exchange for excellent performance (http://www.bmo.com).
  • BDO Dunwoody LLP The sixth-largest accounting and consulting firm in Canada, BDO Dunwoody provides cash bonuses (up to $6,000) for the successful completion of employees' chartered accountant accreditation. The accounting firm also provides new mothers with maternity leave top-up payments to 85 per cent of salary for 17 weeks. It also operates a special program to help employees seek work assignments at any one of the firm's international offices and provides referral bonuses of up to $10,000 when firm hires a recommended candidate (http://www.bdo.ca).
  • Becton Dickinson Inc.Oakville-based medical supply company provides employees with subsidized memberships at its fully equipped fitness facility, which also offers karate and body sculpt classes. The company offers three weeks vacation to start, flexible hours year-round, summer hours and business casual every day. Its health benefits plan extends into retirement, with no age limit. Makes contributions to a traditional pension as well as matching RSP contributions to a maximum of 3 per cent of salary; provides new mothers with a maternity leave top-up to 90 per cent of salary for 17 weeks (http://www.bd.com/ca).
  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLPOne of Canada's leading law firms, it offers lunch-hour workshops on a variety of subjects and holds a national training awareness week each January. Active in the communities in which it operates, Toronto-based law firm provides pro bono legal services to low-income clients and sends lawyers to hang drywall for the Habitat for Humanity organization. Employees direct short films (with the assistance of local film school students) that are showcased at the annual Christmas party. The firm is committed to creating career opportunities across Canada as well as overseas with offices in New York, Chicago, London and Beijing (http://www.blakes.com).
  • CCASThe Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto, an organization mandated to provide social services to protect children and families in need, leads its industry in providing more time off through more vacation allowance, paid days off and unpaid leave. It offers parental leave top-up payments of up to 70 per cent for 24 weeks as well as an extended maternity leave program for up to 3 years. The Toronto chapter of CCAS offers a pension plan with employer contributions to encourage employees to stay for the long term and supports ongoing education with tuition subsidies, in-house training programs and an education leave program (http://www.ccas.toronto.on.ca).
  • Durham Regional Police Service The Oshawa-based organization, responsible for the region encompassing Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Uxbridge, Scugog and Whitby, provides exceptional maternity leave top-up payments for new mothers of up to 75 per cent of salary for 52 weeks as well as an industry leading parental top-up of up to 75 per cent of salary for 35 weeks for new fathers. It also offers tuition subsidies of up to $1,500 per year for courses at outside academic institutions. It offers job-sharing arrangements and runs on-site fitness facilities, with free memberships, at each of its six primary locations (http://www.drps.ca).
  • Effem Inc.Bolton-based Effem operates an onsite fitness facility with free memberships for employees, which includes weekly visits from a wellness co-ordinator who provides one-on-one fitness training and lunch'n learn sessions. The maker of Mars and Snickers candy bars sells products at cost to staff at its on-site store; gives employees a recruitment bonus of up to $1,500 if they recommend a friend who gets hired; provides three weeks of paid vacation to start and operates a unique vacation purchase program (http://www.mars.com).
  • Ernst & Young LLPProviding audit, advisory, tax, corporate finance and other services, Ernst & Young offers maternity leave top-up payments of up to 100 per cent for 17 weeks as well as a rare adoption assistance bonus of $5,000 Ernst & Young pays for emergency daycare workers who will visit an employee's home; has a long-standing and unique employee advisory committee created to reflect its ethnic and gender diversity; amd offers a range of cash bonuses that include signing bonuses and course completion bonuses (http://www.ey.com).
  • Fairmont Hotels & ResortsThe luxury hotel operator of such landmark hotels as the historic Château Frontenac and Banff's Chateau Lake Louise Fairmont is a training leader in the hospitality industry with in-house courses that range from food preparation to finance. Operates a special career website that lets current and prospective employees quickly review job postings at resort properties around the world; provides discounted employee rates at hotels and resorts around the world; Green Partnership program includes waste management, resource conservation and habitat protection (http://www.fairmont.com).
  • Fidelity CanadaFidelity, one of Canada's leading mutual fund companies, created more than 150 new full-time positions last year. The investment company offers year-end bonuses for eligible employees of up to $24,000. Other perks include an annual fitness subsidy to help employees get and stay in shape and a tuition subsidy program for courses at outside institutions with no annual maximum; parental leave top-up payment program for new mothers, fathers and adoptive parents (http://www.fidelity.ca).
  • G.A.P. Adventures Inc.Toronto-based tour operator that organizes small group adventure tours around the world, G.A.P. was recently recognized by National Geographic for its unique travel tours. The developer of its own adventure television series based on its popular eco-friendly tours, G.A.P. raises money - sometimes by skydiving - for community projects in developing countries. It rewards top performing employees with trips around the world and perks include providing new employees with three weeks paid vacation, rising to four weeks after only five years on the job and a paid day off on birthdays (http://www.gap.ca).
  • Halsall Associates Ltd.Forward-looking Toronto-based consulting engineering firm incorporates sustainable design elements into each of its projects. For new employees, Halsall provides a mentor on their first day and arranges quarterly progress update sessions. Provides transit subsidies, helps find carpool mates and set up a secure bicycle storage area for its commuters. Community minded engineering firm with an appreciation for arts education made a donation to Dixon Hall Music School in Regent Park (http://www.halsall.com).
  • Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co.HP, which makes a broad range of computer products, provides parental leave payments to new mothers and fathers. Among its perks, it offers its company-owned lake-side lodge north of Kingston for employees and their families to enjoy. Employees of the Mississauga-based company are granted discounts on the company's latest computer equipment. Has recycled over 600 million pounds of used computer equipment and ink cartridges over the last decade (http://www.hp.com).
  • Hill & Knowlton CanadaH&K, one of the country's leading public affairs and public relations firms, aims for a fun and stimulating workplace: it celebrates the end of each week with a traveling beer cart that winds through its Toronto office and maintains an employee lounge complete with supermarket tabloids. It utilizes group dynamics and feedback to help employees improve their individual performance; encourages employees to volunteer their media expertise with local non-profit groups; provides two annual grants (worth $7,500 each) for employees wishing to continue their education and also offers cash bonuses (to $1,000) when they complete certain courses (http://www.hillandknowlton.ca).
  • Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced LearningOne of Canada's largest and most diversified post-secondary institutes, it offers parental leave top-up payments to 93 per cent of salary for 52 weeks for new mothers, fathers and adoptive parents. Employees and family are eligible for subsidized courses at Humber College and the University of Guelph. Workers can use an on-site daycare centre (138 spaces) operated by college employees. Humber provides a free membership to its on-site fitness facilities and offers swimming, instructor-led classes and personal trainers; pension plan and health benefits through retirement with no age limit (http://www.humber.ca).
  • I Love Rewards Inc.Toronto-based business consulting firm that develops customized employee recognition programs, ILR recently increased its starting vacation from two weeks to four weeks for new employees and raised the vacation entitlement by two weeks for all current employees, moving some employees to five and six weeks of paid vacation per year. The company offers tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions, with no annual maximum; up to five days off every year for employees to volunteer (http://www.iloverewards.com).
  • KPMG Canada LLP Highly educated, well-paid and highly mobile, consultancy KPMG's staff get three weeks of paid vacation and another seven paid personal days per year, an annual fitness subsidy of $700 for a health club membership, concierge services for busy staffers and subsidies for back-up child and elder care. As well, cash bonuses can be used to buy flexible health benefits credits, which allow employees to save on their tax bill (http://www.kpmg.ca).
  • Law Society of Upper CanadaSelf-governing body for the legal profession in Ontario, it gives employees three weeks of vacation in their first year as well as three paid personal days and a paid holiday shutdown at Christmas and extra vacation if they do not use all their sick days. Situated on six acres in downtown Toronto with buildings dating from 1832, it boasts its own four-star restaurant; parental leave top-up payments for new mothers, fathers and adoptive parents and a top-up payment for employees who take compassionate leave to care for a family member; focuses on "less glamorous" charitable initiatives such as feeding homeless people and providing job placements for the disabled (http://www.lsuc.on.ca).
  • Microsoft Canada Co.Offering software marketing, consulting and local support services across the country, it provides three weeks paid vacation for starting employees as well as a Christmas to New Year's shutdown. It offers maternity top-up payments for new mothers of up to 75 per cent of salary for 17 weeks. Perks at the Mississauga head office include a traveling snack cart that winds its way through the head office each afternoon. Uses employees' unique skills, and the company's popular software programs, to assist charities on computing projects (http://www.microsoft.com/canada).
  • Mintz & Partners LLPA medium-sized accounting firm that specializes in providing accounting and other professional services such as recruitment, M&P offers parental leave top-up payments for new mothers, fathers and adoptive parents for 26 weeks. Mintz also gives starting employees three weeks vacation per year. Toronto-based firm encourages its staff to volunteer in the community by providing two paid volunteer days every year; offers recruitment bonuses of up to $10,000 when a referred friend is hired (http://www.mintzca.com).
  • Mount Sinai HospitalA large, 382-bed tertiary care teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto, it provides parental leave top-up payments for new mothers, fathers and adoptive parents and follows-up with a daycare subsidy (to $350) as well as an on-site daycare centre and nearby emergency daycare services for employees. Provides tuition subsidies (to $5,000 for each degree) and works closely with U of T to provide summer placement for visible minority students; partners with U of T to provide summer placements for black students in the health sciences and has an onsite multi-faith spiritual centre. Operates a breakfast club in its cafeteria, providing a healthy start for kids attending nearby grade school (http://www.mtsinai.on.ca).
  • Ontario Power Generation Electricity generation company provides subsidized memberships at an on-site fitness facility with instructor-led classes. Also offers a health benefits plan that starts on an employee's first day and extends through retirement with no age limit; combines year-end bonuses for some positions with the stability of a traditional pension plan. Supports ongoing education with tuition subsidies (with no annual maximum), in-house and online training, mentoring, apprenticeship programs and subsidies for professional accreditations. Provides new mothers with parental leave top-up payments to 93 per cent of salary for 20 weeks (http://www.opg.com).
  • Ontario Provincial PoliceResponsible for delivering correctional, policing, public safety and security services across Ontario, the ministry of public safety and security operates a targeted recruitment initiative focused on attracting women, visible minorities and Aboriginal people to policing. Orillia-based organization operates a free on-site fitness facility, maternity leave top-up payments to 93 per cent of salary for 35 weeks for new mothers and provides new fathers and adoptive parents a parental leave top-up payment to 93 per cent of salary for 17 weeks. Pension and health benefits plans extend through retirement, with no age limit (http://www.jus.gov.on.ca).
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers LLPOne of country's leading professional services firms, PWC provides students with up to 24 paid days off when preparing for their CA exams and provides a yearly fitness allowance of as much as $1,200 that can be used for weight loss programs, health club memberships or home fitness equipment purchases. Accounting firm donates $300 to an employee's favourite charity to which he or she volunteer more than 50 hours annually, and donates $10,000 on behalf of its employee volunteer of the year. Also enters every employee's name in a monthly draw for prizes that range from luxury car rentals to weekend getaways for two (http://www.pwc.com/ca).
  • Procter & Gamble Inc.Leading manufacturer and marketer of a wide range of consumer products, P&G offers student internship and leadership training programs for visible minorities. It offers four paid personal days off in addition to regular paid vacation and provides the option of increased vacation days by transferring unused credits from an employee's health benefits plan; provides maternity leave top-up payments of up to 95 per cent of salary for 15 weeks and a variety of flexible work options; sponsors a special workshop series to address a variety work-life issues for female employees; and keeps its retired employees on their health benefits plan (http://www.pg.ca).
  • Reynolds and Reynolds (Canada) Ltd.A provider of information management services to the automotive industry, it recently upgraded its vacation policy, increasing starting vacation to three weeks and added an additional week of paid vacation for the majority of its existing employees. Mississauga-based firm offers new mothers a maternity top-up payment of 95 per cent of salary for 17 weeks and provides adoptive parents with a $2,000 subsidy toward their adoption; provides additional financial benefits, including a share purchase plan, year-end bonuses (to $24,000 last year), employee referral bonuses and a traditional pension plan (http://www.reyrey.com).
  • Rogers Communications Inc.One of Canada's largest integrated communications companies, Rogers Communications provides a number of on-site amenities at its Rogers "campus" headquarters in downtown Toronto. Those include a fitness centre and an on-site Tim Hortons. Was one of the first employers to provide a skills database that highlights an employee's latest training or certifications for all managers to see. Rogers also offers discounts on its wide range of products, from cellphones to digital TV to Blue Jays baseball tickets (http://www.rogers.com).
  • Russell Investments Canada Ltd.Providing investment management services to institutional and individual investors, Russell offers financial perks that include monthly contributions to an employee's pension plan of up to 15 per cent of their annual salary and a paid vacation allowance of four weeks, one of the best in Canada's financial services industry. Recently created a Diversity Council to plan long-term human resources strategies on a range of workplace issues. Closes early on long weekends in the summer (http://www.russell.com).
  • SAP Canada Inc.A subsidiary of Germany-based e-business and enterprise software developer SAP AG, software developer added more than 180 new positions in Canada last year. Its Toronto head office building boasts a PGA-certified putting green. It offers a flexible health benefits plan with no initial waiting period and free family coverage. For outstanding performance, SAP Canada recognizes employees with an all-expenses paid, five-day vacation for two in a sunny resort location along with $2,500 in spending money (http://www.sap.com/canada).
  • Sapient Canada Inc.A provider of business and information technology consulting services, Sapient Canada bills itself as "an enlightened IT firm" that provides tuition subsidies (up to $6,000 each year) for courses at outside institutions, offers an employee lounge complete with video games, music and a foosball table at its Toronto head office and provides matching RSP contributions to a maximum of $1,500 each year. Employees also start at three weeks paid vacation per year, moving to four weeks after just three years on the job and are also given two paid personal days off each year. Maternity and adoptive leave top-up payment are 100 per cent of salary for 17 weeks (http://www. sapient.com).
  • SAS Institute (Canada) Inc.Specializing in data warehousing and business decision support software, SAS recently built a new head office in downtown Toronto that it says is also one of the greenest office buildings in the country. SAS provides an annual health allowance for alternative wellness activities (such as yoga, meditation and tai chi) as well as traditional fitness club memberships. Starting employees are given three weeks of paid vacation as well as four paid days off each year to volunteer at a local charity. SAS provides its employees with fresh fruit, granola bars, specialty coffee and tea, yogurt, pastries and candy (http://www.sas.com).
  • Serono Canada, Inc.Biotechnology company developing therapeutic recombinant products for reproductive health, neurology, growth and metabolism, Serono offers financial benefits that include a share purchase plan, signing bonuses for some positions, year-end bonuses (up to $40,000), employee referral bonuses (to $8,000) and a traditional pension plan. Serono also provides a fitness club subsidy up to $600 every year and offers three weeks of paid vacation to start, moving to four weeks after four years on the job. Is part of one of the world's largest biotech companies with career possibilities in 90 countries, including its Geneva head office (http://www.serono.com).
  • Thomson NelsonA division of Thomson Corp., Toronto-based academic publisher offers employees a discounted share purchase plan, in addition to company contributions to the employee pension plan. Thomson Nelson offers maternity leave top-up payments to 95 per cent of salary for 17 weeks and also offers employees an adoption assistance payment up to $5,000 per child. Offers thousands of online training courses and provides tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions; operates a half day schedule every Friday from May to September (http://www.thomson.com).
  • Toronto Hydro Corp.Delivering electricity to over 673,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers, it offers what it calls industry-leading parental leave top-up payments for new mothers and fathers. Offers health benefits that includes coverage for retired employees; operates an employee charitable foundation and makes supporting financial donations to those charities where employees volunteer. Operates its own bio-diesel truck fleet and the city's largest solar panel array (http://www.torontohydro.com).
  • Toronto International Film Festival GroupCharitable, cultural and educational organization devoted to celebrating excellence in film and the moving image, TIFF is currently building a modern downtown head office that will provide space for offices, screenings, education seminars and a gallery that will offer free film tickets all year. Other perks include a free staff pass for the Toronto International Film Festival and 10 free advance tickets to public screenings; provides parental leave top-up payments for new mothers and fathers for up to 26 weeks and offers tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions (http://www.tiffg.ca).
  • University Health NetworkCanada's largest academic health sciences centre, operating three major hospitals in downtown Toronto, the UHN offers 24-hour onsite daycare and a remote daycare centre in the suburbs for commuting employees; provides maternity top-up consisting of 75 per cent of salary for 25 weeks, offers a range of alternative work arrangements and is an equity leader with women occupying 67 per cent of management positions; and subsidized employee memberships to its highly rated on-site fitness centre (http://www.uhn.on.ca).
  • University of TorontoCanada's largest university, offering undergraduate, graduate and professional programs to over 65,000 students, U of T grants employees a 100 per cent tuition waiver on courses taken at the university; family-friendly benefits, including a full-time Quality of Life Advisor to help employees with childcare, elder care and maternity/parental leave decisions; excellent vacation allowance for new employees, paid holiday shutdown at Christmas and reduced working hours in the summer. Offers subsidized memberships to two onsite fitness facilities (http://www.utoronto.ca).
  • Vanbots Construction Corp.Providing construction management, project management, design/build and general contracting services to clients across Canada, Vanbots has more than 350 employees in Canada and bids on over 250 new construction projects every year. Also worked closely with George Brown College to establish a new program in construction science and management. Markham-based company provides tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions and operates co-op work programs with community employment centres and a number of university programs; worked closely with the Chippewas of Mnjikaning First Nation in the construction of Casino Rama, leading to the creation an Aboriginal-owned construction company, Rambots Construction Co., whose workforce is nearly half First Nation's peoples (http://www.vanbots.com).
  • Workbrain, Inc.Developer and marketer of software that helps large organizations schedule, manage and communicate with their employees more effectively, Workbrain created more than 75 new positions last year. Toronto software company provides employees with subsidized memberships to an on-site fitness centre with sauna, whirlpool and instructor-led classes and provides four paid personal days each year in addition to three weeks paid vacation in their first year on the job; offers referral bonuses of up to $5,000 when the company hires a referred candidate (http://www.workbrain.com).
  • Yamaha Motor Canada Ltd.Manufacturer and distributor of recreational vehicles, Yamaha allows staff to borrow recreational motorsports equipment for the weekend, including motorcycles, dirt bikes, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. Rewards long-term employees with extra week of vacation plus all-expense-paid trip to a Caribbean resort each year and grants them with an instant $500 cash bonus when their idea is implemented through an employee suggestion box program. Also integrates mentally-challenged individuals into its cafeteria workforce thanks to a unique partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (http://www.yamaha-motor.ca).
  • York Regional MunicipalityProvides municipal government services to 900,000 residents and 25,000 businesses, offers parental leave top-up payments for new mothers, fathers and adoptive parents and provides unpaid leaves of absence for academic studies (up to one year) and travel (up to three months). Also provides tuition subsidies and financial bonuses for the completion of certain accreditations; transit subsidies; and matching financial contributions to the OMERS pension plan (http://www.york.ca).