Recognized as one of Saskatchewan's Top Employers (2024):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Mar 11, 2024)
Here are some of the reasons why Access Communications Co-operative Ltd. was selected as one of Saskatchewan's Top Employers (2024):
- Access Communications offers time-off policies that allow employees to rest and recharge -- examples include three weeks of starting vacation allowance, paid personal days (up to three each year) and paid sick time (up to 15 days annually)
- Access Communications' social committee has returned to organizing in-person social events throughout the year, including a summer barbecue, Halloween dress-up contest, ugly Christmas sweater day, along with a children's Christmas party and an evening dinner and dance for employees
- Access Communications supports new mothers (including adoptive) with maternity and parental leave top-up payments to 100 per cent of salary for up to 17 weeks -- and allows new parents to extend their leave into an unpaid leave of absence, along with offering a variety of alternative work options to help them balance their work and personal lives
Access listens to its communities and its employees
Shelly Prokopetz embodies what working at Access Communications Co-operative is all about. She recently celebrated 35 years of service with the company.
“When you’re here this long, you know they do a lot right,” says Prokopetz. “I would describe it as fun. Of course, the work is serious, but we like each other.”
Prokopetz started out in the call centre, moving to residential sales and eventually into collections, taking on many different roles along the way. She says it’s a special place to work and build a career.
“The organization is very supportive of career development and offers many training programs,” Prokopetz says. “They’re always supportive if there’s a course or something you want to take.”
The work is one thing, but to a 35-year veteran, the culture and the organization’s commitment to supporting people and the communities it serves make Access one of a kind.
“We’re in Saskatchewan only, which is really special,” says Prokopetz, collection teams lead in the finance department. “And it’s a co-operative, so 100 per cent of the company’s earnings are re-invested into the community and our products and services. Not many places can say that, and what we do for the communities is amazing.”
Prokopetz says employees are very proud of Access’s culture, which includes a commitment to community through the Access Communications Children’s Fund (ACCF), which has donated over $3.5 million to help children since its inception in 1992. The ACCF supports children in need and at risk across Saskatchewan through profits from Access TV Bingo, which airs on its community channel AccessNow TV.
AccessNow TV reaches 110 communities across the province. It broadcasts over 2,200 hours of local programming that ranges from local sports to highlighting Saskatchewan’s best and brightest and promoting major fundraising initiatives.
Access’s senior manager of human resources and safety is Carole Sauer, a 14-year veteran.
Sauer says that in today’s economy, where the competition to attract talent is fiercer than ever, having a competitive compensation and benefits package is obviously important, but having a culture that supports employees and demonstrates their positive impact on the customer and the communities Access serves is how the company sets itself apart.
“Because we invest everything back into our products and services and the communities we serve, it allows employees to see the positive impact of their work,” says Sauer.
The organization offers family-friendly policies that include flexible scheduling, remote work, a health and wellness program, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Employee feedback also matters. That may be most evident in the company’s annual strategic planning, where department planning sessions are an integral part of the process. These offer a chance for employees to discuss the year but also weigh in on strategic priorities based on what they hear from customers.
“We have employees who provide us with a lot of information from feedback our customers give them. What is special about Access is their voices are heard by those who make the decision what our strategy will be going forward. It's truly a collaborative process,” says Sauer.
Access’s values include being innovative and employee-centred, meaning the company wants employees to succeed and grow in all aspects of the organization, she says. “We specifically ask, ‘Where do you want to be? How can we help you be more successful?’”
Access Communications is a community-owned, not-for-profit co-operative founded in 1974. It currently has 300 employees and contractors in seven locations across the province. It offers TV, internet, phone and smart solutions for homes and businesses to over 230 communities and almost 200,000 square kilometres of rural Saskatchewan.
The Career Directory
Access Communications Co-operative Ltd. has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.
