For the third consecutive year VIHA was named one of B.C.’s Top Employers for 2012 by Mediacorp Canada Inc. Last fall it also made the company’s Top 100 Canadian Employer’s list.
VIHA was given the nod for reasons including: a unique head office that features amenities such as a fitness facility, cafeteria, quiet rooms and nap rooms for employees; investing in employee development through subsidies for tuition and scholarship programs; a mentorship program for graduating nurses to help them transition into the workforce; maternity leave top-up payments, to 85 per cent for 17 weeks; flexible working conditions including telecommuting and compressed work week options; and encouraging employees to participate in green initiatives, such as carpooling and cycling to work.
Rod O’Connell, strategist of talent acquisition and retention for VIHA, said benefits of making the list include exposure in the media, being featured on the job site eluta.ca and using the Top Employer logo in recruitment material.
O’Connell said the health authority is “blessed” to have employees working under collective agreements that provide excellent benefits to employees.
“The unions should be applauded for the efforts they have made to make us an attractive employer in Canada,” said O’Connell.
Margi Blamey, a spokeswoman for the Hospital Employees’ Union, and Jo Taylor, chairwoman of the Pacific Rim for the BCNU, agree the unions played a major part in creating attractive working conditions.
“VIHA named as one of B.C.’s top employers is a great reflection on the employees and a result of bargaining,” said Blamey. “I’m happy to say it’s the union members who should take credit.”
Blamey said when workers are provided decent wages and benefits, it ripples out into the community.
VIHA also received an A rating in the community involvement category and a B plus for its physical workspace, for projects such as the Nanaimo emergency department expansion project.
Despite being named as a top employer, the recognition doesn’t reflect the feelings of many nurses who face challenging work conditions, Taylor said.
“When it comes down to actual satisfaction of employees, when the rubber hits the road and if you talk to any nurse, you are going to hear their workload is too high and staff levels are insufficient,” said Taylor. “There is a feeling of always being in crisis mode.”
VIHA is also contracting out more positions and many employees working at VIHA facilities don’t receive the same benefits, said Blamey.
For a complete list of the top 100 B.C. employers, please go to www.canadastop100.com/bc.
reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com
Sider:
Other companies given the nod as one of the top 100 employers in B.C. include:
B.C. Hydro
Best Buy Canada Ltd.
Cactus Restaurants Ltd.
British Columbia Public Schools Employer’s Association
Telus Corporation
British Columbia Lottery Corporation
British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
