The University of Toronto was recently chosen as one of the top 100 employers of 2013 in an employment review by Mediacorp Canada Inc.
Last year, they ranked U of T
among the top employers for Canadians over 40, Greater Toronto’s top employers, Canada’s greenest employers, and Canada’s best diversity employers, as well as the top 100.
The employment review was based on eight different criteria, including physical workplace, financial benefits and compensation, health and family-friendly benefits, training and skills development, and community involvement. U of T was rated “exceptional”, “very good”, or “above average” in every category.
U of T received its highest rating in the physical workplace category, in which it was rated “exceptional”. The review praised the St. George campus’s mix of historic buildings and state-of-the-art facilities, as well as the convenient locations of the three U of T campuses. It listed St. George’s various fitness facilities, employee lounge, religious observation room, and secure bicycle parking as examples of what is available to faculty and staff.
U of T received “above average” in community involvement, partly because U of T employees raised $850,000 for the annual United Way campaign.
The training and skills development category received the same rating because of the tuition subsidies U of T employees can receive, especially for courses related to their position.
Health and family-friendly benefits received ratings of “above average” as well. U of T offers its employees health benefits, which are managed by Green Shield Canada, during maternity and parental leave, subsidized onsite daycare, and emergency short-term daycare. Mediacorp’s review notes that all of these are available to same-sex partners as well. The university also runs work-programs that help employees balance their work and personal lives.
U of T also keeps salaries competitive by participating in outside salary surveys; the university achieved an “above average” rating in the financial benefits and compensation category.
Community involvement was rated “above average”. Each year, students and employees raise money for charitable events such as Walk a Day in Her Shoes, Annual Black History Month, the Green Dot Campaign, and the CIBC’s Run for the Cure.
U of T currently provides over 18,000 jobs to full-time and part-time faculty, of which 53% are women and 22% are visible minorities.
The University of New Brunswick, Dalhousie University, and Simon Fraser University were also ranked among the top 100 employers for 2013.