For five consecutive years, the City of Ottawa has been chosen among Canada’s Top 100 Employers.
This makes them the only municipality chosen that many years in a row, as well as the only city to make it on the 2016 list.
“This is a remarkable honour that every city employee can share,” Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said in a Nov. 9 press release. “Through this Globe and Mail project, the City of Ottawa contributes to a shared catalogue of best employment practices for Canadian employers of all sizes.”
For the past 17 years, the Globe and Mail has conducted an annual survey seeking to determine Canada’s Top 100 Employers. The selection process uses eight criteria to evaluate workplaces. These include: physical workplace, atmosphere and social, health and family benefits, vacation and time off, employee communications, performance management, training and skills development, and community involvement.
Employers are given a letter grading based on how well they match up in each of these categories.
According to the Top 100 Employers 2016 website, there are many perks that come along with working for the City of Ottawa. Employees at City Hall are provided with an onsite cafeteria that serves healthy and alternative food options. They are also given discounted memberships for $5 to an onsite fitness centre providing them with exercise equipment and instructor-led classes.
“The City of Ottawa helps employees balance their work and personal lives through a variety of alternative work arrangements and maintains a workplace wellness and productivity network,” says the Globe and Mail Top 100 Employers report. City Hall, the main location, has tele-commuting workstations and carpool sign up programs. The building is conveniently located downtown, close to many other amenities such as shopping, restaurants, community centres and child care.
Employees are given access to resources to support their physical, mental and emotional health and well-being. This includes health benefits, paid vacation time, social events and community involvement. Performance reviews and feedback encourages workers to be productive on the job.
Finally, the City of Ottawa has been celebrated for its commitment to offering employees in-house apprenticeships, online training and education programs. These programs give workers the guidance they need to be successful in their work.
According to the Globe and Mail, the city currently has 12,220 full-time employees and 4,624 part-time. The city also hires many student positions throughout the summer months. Those who have been employed with the city in the past, agree the job offers them great opportunities and resources.
“The management was very accommodating and understanding,” says Lauren Wells, a student who worked as a counsellor at the City of Ottawa’s summer camps. “They did a great job in managing the staff.”
She says that management was considerate if she needed time off or called in sick. The only aspect of the job she wishes could be improved is receiving a designated lunch break, as she was working long days without a break, which can be tiring.
Job opportunities with the City of Ottawa can be found on the website ottawa.ca.