It seems fitting, as we approach the season for family gatherings, that AV俱乐部 celebrates being chosen as one of .
Organizations that are named one of Canada鈥檚 Top 100 Employers are also eligible for additional awards including the Top Family-Friendly Employer honour, which was announced late last week. This award recognizes those organizations that help their employees balance their work and family commitments. In all, 20 employers across Canada made the list.
Janice MacInnis, coordinator of organizational health with Human Resources, is proud of the university鈥檚 many employee and family support initiatives.
鈥淧roviding family-focused services is part of a good retention strategy,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t keeps people here and makes us more attractive as an employer. People want to come to AV俱乐部 because of the range of opportunities and supports that exist.鈥�
Support for families
AV俱乐部 has several options available to employees who want to maintain a healthy work-life balance, for themselves and their family members. Family memberships at Dalplex are available at 50 per cent of the regular rate and employees receive 35 per cent off on GoodLife Fitness memberships.
Employees, their spouses, and their dependents may be eligible for tuition assistance for post-secondary study. The university offers a dental clinic, a child care facility, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes health and dental, and a defined benefit pension plan.
One area that Ms. MacInnis feels deserves more attention among employees and their families is the . EFAP offers such services as personal and career counselling, financial support, and stress management, which are beneficial to everyone鈥檚 well-being.
鈥淢any employees know about the program and are using it, but the program is available to members of their immediate family as well, such as their spouses and children,鈥� she says.
Many employees receive family days for emergency situations involving child or family member care. Vacation entitlements are competitive at AV俱乐部, in addition to time off between Christmas and New Year鈥檚 for the majority of employees. The university also introduced a in October 2011, providing guidelines for employees who are able to work in areas outside of the typical office setting.
Opportunities for new parents
Maternity and parental leave options are another benefit for AV俱乐部 employees. Anette Petersen, with Information Technology Services, is preparing for parental leave in 2012 to spend some quality time with her six-month-old son, Eamon.
鈥淚t was challenging trying to figure out when to take some time off, because of my projects,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 felt some anxiety while planning to leave my job for a while. However, the work will still be managed here, and I don鈥檛 want to miss out on that time with my son, so those benefits really outweigh my anxiety.鈥�
Ms. MacInnis believes that AV俱乐部 has the right mindset for encouraging a balanced lifestyle for employees.
鈥淚f we want to keep good people, we have to consider ways we can support the whole person.鈥�
For more information on benefits for families, visit the .
Read also: (Globe and Mail profile on AV俱乐部)