Dal once again named one of Canada’s best workplaces

As a workplace, there’s been plenty of changes at Dal in the past year: a new workplace survey to consider, new Human Resources policies and programs, three new collective agreements and, most significantly, the fact that the Dal workplace now extends to Truro with Dal’s Agricultural Campus.

One thing that hasn’t changed: Dal’s ranking as one of Canada’s best employers.

For the second year in a row, Dalhousie has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. The yearly report was published in today’s Globe and Mail.

Dal is one of only five universities and colleges nationwide to make the Top 100 list. The university received ‘A’ or ‘A+’ ratings in the categories of physical workplace, financial benefits and compensation, health and family-friendly benefits, training and skills development and community involvement.

Link: Dal's full entry in the Canada's Top 100 Employers report

“It’s a testament to our faculty and staff,” says Dal President Tom Traves. “Their passion, innovation, creativity and, above all else, enthusiasm shape the Dalhousie experience. This is an honour we can all take pride in.”

Points of pride

Every Dal employee has his or her own story.

For Lisa Matthews, manager of the university’s Print Centre, Dalhousie represented an opportunity to bring the skills she learned from more than a decade in the publishing industry to the academic sector.

“There are many reasons to be proud of working at Dalhousie, but the recent visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a highlight for me,” she says. “It is thrilling that she deemed it a priority to spend time with scientists at Dalhousie to discuss ocean research while in Canada.”

Angelika Torres grew up in Germany and lived in Switzerland, England and Holland before immigrating to Canada nine years ago. She started at Dal as acting undergraduate admissions secretary for the School of Nursing just over a year ago, and in July assumed the role of the school’s human resources/finance assistant.

“I love the international, multicultural environment at Dalhousie, as it makes me feel more at home,” she says.

Both cite Dal’s tuition support for children and employees as a key benefit of working at the university. Other Dal benefits highlighted in the Top 100 Employers report include phased-in retirement work options, varied working supports such as Dal’s telework policy, subsidized fitness options, the university pension plan, and Dal’s physical campuses in Halifax and Bible Hill.

Continuing to improve

Even though this is the second year in a row that Dal made the Top Employers list, the university knows there is always room for improvement.

“What we heard from employees in last year’s workplace survey was a number of areas for us to focus on: leadership development, research support, employee recognition, health and safety, and more,” says Katherine Sheehan, assistant vice-president, Human Resources.

“In each of these areas, we have room to grow, and they’re areas where we’re focusing our efforts, both as an HR team and in our work with leaders locally in faculties and departments.”

“We know how committed our employees are to Dalhousie,” adds Dr. Traves. “It’s our responsibility to be dedicated, in return, to their work, their professional development and their entire Dalhousie experience.

“That’s the promise that comes with being a Top 100 Employer, and it’s one we’re committed to.”