Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025):
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 14, 2024)
Here are some of the reasons why AstraZeneca Canada Inc. was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025):
- AstraZeneca Canada encourages employees to give back to the communities in which they live and work with three paid days to volunteer -- the company also matches employees' generosity in-kind with charitable donations of up to $500 per employee and $500 volunteer grants for employees who volunteer a minimum of 40 hours per year
- AstraZeneca Canada streamlined its family-friendly benefits by offering universal parental leave top-up, to 100 per cent of salary for up to 18 weeks for new and adoptive parents -- the company also offers support for fertility drugs and treatment if needed (to a lifetime maximum of $15,000), as well as for surrogacy and adoption (up to $15,000 for surrogacy medical benefits and up to $20,000 for surrogacy and adoption non-medical benefits)
- AstraZeneca Canada helps employees take more time for themselves with four weeks of starting vacation allowance, additional paid time off during the winter holidays, and paid personal days that can be used to extend vacation (or for other matters as determined by the employee)
An employee at AstraZeneca Canada participating in a tree planting initiative
An employee at AstraZeneca Canada participating in a tree planting initiative
An employee at AstraZeneca Canada participating in a tree planting initiative
Employer Background
| Industry | Pharmaceutical manufacturing |
| Established in Canada | 1999 |
| Publicly traded | yes |
| Major Canadian locations | Mississauga ON |
| Full-time employees in Canada | 1,714 |
| Full-time employees worldwide | 89,900 |
| Workforce engaged on a contract basis | 10% |
| Average age of employees in Canada | 40 years |
| Longest serving employee | 41 years |
Work Environment Rating: A
| Flexible work options | hybrid work option, flexible work hours, 35-hour work week (with full pay), telecommuting |
| Commuter amenities | walk to public transit, free parking, electric vehicle charging stations |
| Onsite workplace features | renovated "iWork" spaces on the 4th floor with meeting rooms, huddle spaces, Idea Zone rooms for collaboration and brainstorming, telepresence room for virtual meetings with external partners, a well-being room for meditation, prayer and stretch, telecommuter workstations, sit-stand workstations, private phone booth, religious observance room, outdoor patio, discounts at local restaurants |
| Employee lounge amenities | comfortable seating, music, television |
| Onsite cafeteria | healthy menus, special diet menus, subsidized meals, take-home meals |
| Other food options at main location | subsidized AZ Marché is a self-serve food marketplace offering fresh meals, including vegetarian, halal, gluten-free and frozen food options |
| Onsite fitness facility | shared-use facility, free membership, subsidized membership, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, instructor-led classes (spin, pilates, yoga, Body Sculpt, Express Abs), elliptical trainers, weights, shower facilities |
Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B+
| Company organized social events | yes |
| Past social events | employee appreciation day (free breakfast, popcorn treats), weekly pick-up soccer games |
| Cultural aspects | business-casual dress daily, dress-for-your-day policy, casual dress (e.g. jeans) daily, music while working, concierge services available, employee sports teams |
| Employee communications | intranet site, company newsletter, traditional/email suggestion box, internal social media |
Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: A
| Outside salary surveys | participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months |
| Employee salary reviews | individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months |
| Long-term savings | defined-contribution (DC) pension, matching RSP |
| Long-term planning | retirement planning assistance |
| Year-end bonuses | available to all employees |
| Referral bonuses (max) | new employee referral bonuses (up to $2,000) for some positions |
| Signing bonuses | available for some positions |
| Additional financial benefits | corporate discount program (e.g. retail, services, travel, etc.), discounted home insurance, discounted auto insurance, discounted auto lease rates |
Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: A
| Health plan premium | as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 100% of the premiums |
| Flexible coverage | health plan is flexible with adjustable premiums and coverage levels |
| Waiting period | there is no waiting period for coverage |
| Dental coverage | routine, restorative, orthodontics |
| Eyecare | $250 every 2 years |
| Health plan includes | traditional coverage (e.g. prescription drugs), employee assistance (EAP) plan, semi-private hospital room, physiotherapy, medical travel insurance, homecare, medical equipment and supplies, massage therapy, podiatrist, osteopathy, chiropractor, alternative coverage (e.g. acupuncture, naturopathy), virtual healthcare services |
| Mental health practitioner benefit | up to $1,500 each year |
| Additional health plan information | coverage for surrogacy and adoption, up to $15,000 for surrogacy medical benefits and up to $20,000 for surrogacy and adoption non-medical benefits (lifetime maximum) |
| Additional health and wellness initiatives | "Thrive@AZ" initiative with core wellness offerings available through a dedicated wellness hub (LifeWorks, LifeSpeak, Lumino, Wellbeats, to name a few) |
| In vitro fertilization (IVF) | $15,000 per lifetime |
| Maternity top-up (mothers) | up to 100% of salary for 18 weeks |
| Parental top-up (fathers) | up to 100% of salary for 18 weeks |
| Adoption top-up | up to 100% of salary for 18 weeks |
| Additional family-friendly benefits | extended parental leave to unpaid leave, compassionate top-up to 100% of salary for 12 weeks |
| Additional family-friendly information | parental bonding leave for non-birth parents (5 days) |
Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: A
| Vacation allowance | new employees receive 4 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
| Vacation jump | vacation increases after 10 years of employment |
| Maximum vacation allowance | employees move to a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation over their career |
| Paid holiday shutdown | during the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 3 days off |
| Personal paid days off | employees can schedule 3 personal days off each year, as needed |
| Company paid days off | employees receive 6 personal days off, as determined by their employer |
| Unpaid leave maximum | 12 months |
| Additional time-off information | personal days can be used for mental health, volunteering, or to extend vacation |
Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: A
| Employee performance reviews | employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 months |
| Managers receive performance review training | yes |
| 360° feedback option | as part of the review process, performance feedback is also solicited from co-workers and other managers familiar with each employee's work |
| Confidential employee feedback | employees can also provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance |
| Exit interview | exit interview option is available for departing employees |
| Performance recognition | online recognition platform, individual performance bonuses, on-the-spot rewards, peer-to-peer recognition awards, long-service awards, tailored and unique rewards (e.g. travel), "Catalyze" points-based recognition program, President's Award of Excellence to celebrate excellence in sales, MVP Awards to honour employees who model the company's values |
| In-house survey period | in-house surveys are conducted every 6 months |
| Outside survey period | outside consultant surveys are held every 12 months |
Training & Skills Development Rating: B+
| Career planning | in-house career planning services, online employee skills inventory |
| In-house training initiatives | mentoring, in-house training, online training, leadership development programs, paid internships, subsidies for professional accreditation |
| Related tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year |
| Annual tuition maximum | employer pays up to $6,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year |
| Unique training & development programs | access to learning platforms (LinkedIn Learning, Percipio), dedicated training for women in leadership roles |
Community Involvement Rating: A+
| Scope of charitable involvement | local, national, international |
| Employee charitable involvement | employees are involved in selection of charities, employees receive paid time off to volunteer, (up to 3 paid days) |
| Total employee volunteer hours (on company time) | over 2,078 hours last year |
| Some of the community organizations supported | Health Partners, Physical & Health Education Canada, Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation of Canada, Mississauga Food Bank, Dress For Success, Inclusion Canada, Peel Children's Aid Foundation, Canadian Red Cross |
| Charitable giving | matches employee donations, matches employee volunteer hours with company donations |
| Community highlight | In partnership with Physical & Health Education Canada, AstraZeneca Canada founded the "At My Best" program to help kids establish healthy habits in an effort to reduce chronic disease -- the company has provided more than $8-million in support since 2008 and reaches 120,000 kids annually |
The Career Directory
AstraZeneca Canada Inc. has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.
AstraZeneca Canada employees
AstraZeneca Canada employees
AstraZeneca Canada employees
Highlights for New Grads
| Industry | Pharmaceutical manufacturing |
| Full-time employees in Canada | 1,001 to 2,500 |
| Major Canadian locations | Mississauga ON |
| Student opportunities | paid internships, summer jobs, co-op opportunities |
| Training | subsidies for professional accreditation, orientation program, online training, in-house training, mentoring, in-house career planning services, leadership training |
| Annual tuition maximum | employer pays up to $6,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year |
| Typical new grad positions | Medical Sales Representative, Marketing Associate Manager, Financial Analyst, HR Coordinator, Medical Science Liaison, Regulatory Affairs Coordinator, Medical Evidence Associate, Global Study Associate, Study Delivery Associate, Project Management Coordinator |
| Starting salary | $60K to $65K |
| Work benefits | health benefits for new employees, flexible work hours, telecommuting, employees receive paid time off to volunteer |
| Vacation allowance | new employees receive 4 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
Academic fields recruited
-
Bachelor of Arts
- Business
- French
- Public Relations / Communications
-
Bachelor of Commerce / Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Marketing
-
Bachelor of Engineering
- Chemical
-
Bachelor of Laws
-
Bachelor of Science
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Epidemiology
- Health Sciences
- Immunology
- Kinesiology
- Mathematics
- Microbiology
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Psychology
-
Community College Diploma
- Business
- Marketing / Sales
-
Doctorate (Science)
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Epidemiology
- Health Sciences
- Mathematics
- Pharmacy
-
Master of Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Marketing
-
Master of Science
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Health Sciences
- Immunology
- Kinesiology
- Microbiology
- Nursing / Health Administration
- Nutrition
- Pharmacy
- Psychology
-
Secondary Education
- High School Diploma
Recruits at these schools
- Humber College
- McMaster University
- Queen's University
- Seneca College
- University of Toronto
- University of Waterloo