Great Place to Work, an organization that evaluates companies based on company culture, has released its 2019 list of Canada’s Best Workplaces in Technology.
“Innovation by all means everybody creates, collaborates and contributes, no matter who they are or what they do in the organization.”
Organizations were selected based on Great Place to Work’s Trust Index Survey, which measures the employee experience at each company. Employees are asked how frequently they experience behaviours that create a great workplace, including, transparency, collaboration, benefits, professional development, and work-life balance. This year’s notable tech companies include Borrowell, FreshBooks, Jobber, SnapTravel, Top Hat, TradeRev, Traction on Demand, and Wave.
“While the tech industry may be known for its swanky offices and unique perks, staying ahead of the innovation curve requires much, much more, including a workforce that [is] fully engaged, empowered, and expected to contribute,” said Alison Grenier, head of culture and research at Great Place to Work, in a company article. “Innovation by all means everybody creates, collaborates and contributes, no matter who they are or what they do in the organization, from senior developers to front line staff.”
Leadership, innovation, and transparency were some of the ways companies could be recognized on this year’s list. Great Place to Work pointed to Toronto-based Softchoice for a leadership initiative challenging employees to act like an owner, finding something at the company that needs fixing, and fixing it. Intelex Technologies was recognized for transparency, for its online portal where employees are able to add a suggestion and other employees are able to vote on ideas they like.
Toronto-based FinTech Borrowell was also recognized on the best workplaces list. Certainly no stranger to Great Place to Work, the startup has previously been recognized on seven other lists, recognizing Borrowell for its workplace as it pertains to financial services, mental wellness, women, and millennials.
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Edmonton-founded Jobber, which also has an office in Toronto, was also named as one of the Best Workplaces in Technology. The startup offers a full benefits package that includes: health, dental, vision, life and travel insurance, an employee assistance program, and a health spending account. The startup also offers its employees three weeks paid vacation per year.
Another company recognized this year is Toronto-based FreshBooks. Some notable workplace perks and assets at Freshbooks include free breakfast items and snacks in office, education bursaries upwards of $1,000, and an onsite gym – stocked with squat racks, cardio equipment, free weights, a cable machine, and a row machine.
Vancouver-based Traction on Demand, a Salesforce consulting and application development firm, has been recognized by Great Place to Work since 2017 for Traction on Demand’s employee stock option program, its opportunities for “Tractionites” to work abroad, and a Personal Spending Account and a Health Spending Account.
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