16 of the best construction employers in B.C.

Whether it is generous benefits for new parents, access to gyms, funding for mental health or large bonuses for recruiting others, these companies are raising the bar when it comes to employee treatment. Each company was recognized last month as part a larger list by BC’s Top Employers, an annual competition organized by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers.

Companies are chosen by editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers using the same eight criteria as the national competition: workplace; work atmosphere & social; health, financial & family benefits; vacation & time off; employee communications; performance management; training & skills development; and community involvement. The judges also compare candidates to other organizations in their field to determine if they are ahead of the pack.

Canfor

Established in 1938, Canfor has a long history in Canada and they are one of the world’s largest producers of sustainable lumber, pulp and paper. For employees, they cover up to 100% of tuition per year. They also offer apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, in-house training, online training, mentoring, paid internships. Canfor pays up to $1,000 each year for mental health practitioner and allows hybrid work for eligible roles.

Ausenco Engineering

Ausenco Limited is a multinational engineering, procurement, construction management, and operations service provider to the energy and resources sectors. Last year, Ausenco implemented a new parental leave program, offering a top-up of 100 per cent of salary for 12 weeks for primary caregivers. New parents also have the option to phase-in their return work or prolong their leave to an unpaid leave of absence. The company also recently established a women’s employee resource group and rolling out training and networking sessions — the company also launched a reconciliation action plan, with six action areas including cultural awareness training, internships and scholarships

Beedie

Beedie is a private real estate development, investment and property management company who’s president, Ryan Beedie was recently honoured by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce as Canadian Business Leader of the Year.. Not only does Beedie assist workers in saving for the future, they provide a year-end bonus program and up to $5,000 in referral bonuses for employees who help recruit new talent. Employees have access to a free onsite gym at its Burnaby office. The gym has free instructor-led classes and even personal training. Beedie also has a digital well-being education platform with resources on mental health, financial well-being, family and relationships.

West Fraser Timber Co. 

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. is a Canadian forestry company that produces wood products, including lumber, laminated veneer lumber and plywood. West Fraser offers a flexible health benefits program, mental health coverage, a $3,000 annual health spending account, They also allow the transfer of unused health credits to salary, savings or additional time off. The company designates a portion of its pre-tax profits for charitable and community giving. Where most donations go is decided by employees. New employees with three weeks of paid vacation and considers previous work experience when setting individual vacation entitlement. Salaried receive an additional paid week above their regular vacation after five years of service, as well as a bonus week of vacation every fifth anniversary thereafter.

TYBO Contracting 

Tybo Contracting Ltd. is a civil contracting company based in Langley and it operates throughout the province. Tybo gives workers retirement planning assistance services and matching RSP contributions. It also helps employees transition out of work with flexible, phased-in retirement options.

Tybo offers $1,000 to $5,000 for successful hire referrals. It supports expecting mothers with maternity and parental leave top-up. Parents with children pursuing post-secondary education can receive $2,500 academic scholarships for each child per year. 

SkilledTradesBC

SkilledTradesBC, formerly Industry Training Authority, is the government organization that advances B.C.’s trades training system. It offers employees an annual spending allowance on items related to personal health goals such as fitness equipment, classes and gym memberships. It supports new parents with extensive maternity and parental leave top-up payments for a full year of paid leave and provides parental leave top-up for new dads and adoptive parents, for up to 35 weeks. New employees start with three weeks of paid vacation, moving up to four weeks after three years.

Ventana Construction Corporation

Ventana is a full-service construction partner based in Burnaby. It supports a group of in-house Wellness Champions in partnership with the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association. Wellness Champions share online materials on a range of topics, from physical fitness to emotional intelligence, and the company recently worked with the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation in support of Men’s Health Week. Ventana also provides variety of financial benefits, including profit-sharing for all employees, signing bonuses for some, and referral bonuses as an incentive for employees to recruit from their personal networks, from $800 to $5,000 depending on the position. Employees can also receive subsidies for job-related courses and professional accreditation. 

Turner Construction Company

Turner Construction opened its Vancouver office in 2011 with the goal of increasing reach and providing construction services across Canada.Turner offers paid volunteer time and matching charitable donations, up to $500 annually, to encourage employees to give back to the community. Employee referral bonuses can get as high as $14,000. Employees can enjoy a reduced summer hours program that includes a company-paid early shutdown every Friday afternoon, from the end of May to the end of August.

Perkins & Will

Architecture firm Perkins & Will offers discretionary compassionate leave top-up for those caring for a loved one (to 80 per cent of salary for up to 52 weeks). It also invests in ongoing professional development with tuition subsidies for courses both related and not directly related to an employee’s current position, subsidies for professional accreditation and financial bonuses (up to $2,000) for some course completions. The company offers paid internships, summer employment, apprenticeships and formal mentoring programs to attract new people into the field.

Ledcor

Ledcor Group of Companies is an employee-owned, diversified and vertically-integrated construction company operating primarily in Canada and the U.S.. Ledcor recently doubled its mental health coverage to $1,500 annually per employee, which includes visits with psychologists, social workers, certified Canadian counsellors, or registered clinical counsellors. Ledcor employees who have over five years of service are enrolled in the Savings Time Annual Reward program, which offers a choice of an additional 40 hours of paid time off or the equivalent dollar amount deposited into a Ledcor RRSP account. Ledcor also supports ongoing employee development throughout an employee’s career, from co-op placements, apprenticeships and mentoring programs to tuition subsidies for courses taken externally.

Jacob Bros Construction 

Jacob Bros Construction, based in Surrey, is a family-owned general contractor operating across Western Canada. The company supports a number of charitable initiatives each year and matches charitable donations made by employees, to a maximum of $500 per year. It also organizes an awards program for employees with five years of service, allowing them to choose between a trip for two, an RRSP contribution, or a cash reward for their tenure. Employees can receive tuition subsidies for job-related courses (to $2,500 per year), subsidies for professional accreditation and a range of in-house and online training options, including apprenticeships.

Hudson Pacific Properties

Hudson is a Vancouver-based real estate developer. It supports new birth moms with maternity leave top-up, to 100 per cent of salary for 16 weeks. Hudson extends parental leave top-up payments to biological parents, same-sex spousal equivalents and new adoptive parents (to 100 per cent of salary for 12 weeks). Referral bonuses go up to $5,000. Hudson also encourages employee volunteerism, providing up to four paid days off to volunteer each year. It also matches employee charity donations up to $1,000 per employee per year.

ETRO Construction 

ETRO Construction is one of Vancouver’s fastest growing construction management and general contracting firms. It offers a fitness subsidy of $500 annually to support employees in achieving their health and wellness goals (can be used for gym memberships and classes), and offers subsidized group personal training weekly at a nearby gym. It provides maternity and parental leave top-up payments, to 100 per cent of salary for up to 26 weeks.

ETRO also recognizes employees  through its Wall of 100 display at head office, showcasing plaques and photos of employees who have achieved their five year milestone with the company.

Concert Properties

Concert Properties is a Canadian real estate company based in Vancouver. It is owned by 19 union and management pension funds and its commercial assets are valued at over $8 billion.

Concert supports a peer-to-peer recognition program and offers up to five additional paid bonus days off per year for employees as a reward for exceptional performance. Concert provides commuters with a public transit subsidy of up to $1,000 per year. Additionally, employees get free access to a fitness facility, a community garden, and regular deliveries of fresh fruit

Concert supports ongoing employee development through in-house and online training initiatives, as well as tuition subsidies for courses related to their current position.

Wesgroup Equipment

Wesgroup Equipment is an award-winning full-service construction equipment and material handling dealership operating with eight locations across B.C. Wesgroup supports ongoing employee development with tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions along with a range of in-house training options throughout their careers, from mentorships and apprenticeships to leadership training and financial bonuses for certain course completions. Wesgroup offers matching RSP contributions, retirement planning assistance and phased-in retirement work options that allow employees to gradually reduce their hours.

RF Binnie

Binnie delivers civil engineering, surveying and project management services to the public and private sector in Western Canada. The company offers referral bonuses up to $5,000 depending on the position and helps employees save for the future with RSP contributions. Some employees can get profit and deferred profit sharing plans. The company surveyed its employees to help design its return to work program and developed a formal Return to Office Guide that provides support for onsite, hybrid and flexible work options.