Top Employer: FBM Architecture Ltd.

Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Atlantic Canada'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 FBM Architecture Ltd. was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Atlantic Canada's Top Employers (2025):

FBM encourages employees to adopt an ownership mentality through a share purchase plan, available to all employees, and offers referral bonuses for employees who successfully recruit friends, from $1,500 to $3,000 depending on the position
FBM established a Community Connections group to help execute its long-term community initiatives (sustainability, affordable housing advocacy, and equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility) and incorporates employee feedback when determining which organizations to support
FBM takes a thoughtful approach when helping employees manage unexpected challenges, offering compassionate leave top-up for those called upon to care for a loved one (to 100 per cent of salary for up to eight weeks)

Staff members at FBM

Employer Background

Industry	Architectural services
Established in Canada	1917
Major Canadian locations	Halifax NS
Full-time employees in Canada	51
Part-time employees in Canada	2
Workforce engaged on a contract basis	8.3%
Average age of employees in Canada	38.5 years
Longest serving employee	21 years

Work Environment Rating: B

Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B+

Employee social committee name	Party Planners (est. 1999)
Past social events	annual holiday party, bowling, boat tours, family skate, St. Patrick's Day social, summer social, employee climbing group (belay and bouldering), Halloween costume contest
Cultural aspects	business-casual dress daily, dress-for-your-day policy, casual dress (e.g. jeans) daily, music while working, can bring pets to work when needed, employee sports teams, organized social activities for retirees
Employee communications	company newsletter, traditional/email suggestion box
Other in-house communications	quarterly staff meetings

Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: B+

Outside salary surveys	participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months
Employee salary reviews	individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months
Long-term savings	matching RSP, non-matching RSP
Long-term planning	retirement planning assistance, phased-in retirement work options
Share purchase plan	available to all employees
Referral bonuses (max)	new employee referral bonuses (up to $3,000) for some positions
Additional financial benefits	discounted home insurance

Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: A

Health plan premium	as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 50% of the premiums
Flexible coverage	health plan is flexible with adjustable premiums and coverage levels
Waiting period	there is no waiting period for coverage
Family coverage option	yes
Retiree coverage option	up to 65 years of age
Dental coverage	routine, restorative, orthodontics
Eyecare	$100 every 2 years
Paid sick days	employees receive 12 days off each year
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, nutrition planning, podiatrist, osteopathy, chiropractor, alternative coverage (e.g. acupuncture, naturopathy), virtual healthcare services
Mental health practitioner benefit	up to $1,000 each year
Wellness spending account	up to $400 each year
Fitness club subsidy	up to $509 each year
In vitro fertilization (IVF)	$3,000 per lifetime
Maternity top-up (mothers)	up to 95% of salary for 5 weeks
Parental top-up (mothers)	up to 70% of salary for 5 weeks
Parental top-up (fathers)	up to 70% of salary for 10 weeks
Adoption top-up	up to 70% of salary for 10 weeks
Additional family-friendly benefits	phased-in return to work for new parents, compassionate top-up to 100% of salary for 8 weeks
Additional family-friendly information	top-up increases by length of service

Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: C+

Vacation allowance	new employees receive 2 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
Vacation jump	vacation increases after 5 years of employment
Maximum vacation allowance	employees move to a maximum of 4 weeks of vacation over their career
Previous experience	considers previous work experience when setting annual vacation for new employees
Paid holiday shutdown	during the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 5 days off
Personal paid days off	employees can schedule 12 personal days off each year, as needed
Unpaid leave of absence option	yes
Additional time-off information	up to 12 paid personal days available for family matters

Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: B

Training & Skills Development Rating: A

Community Involvement Rating: B+

Scope of charitable involvement	local, national
Employee charitable involvement	employees are involved in selection of charities
Total employee volunteer hours (on company time)	over 50 hours last year
Some of the community organizations supported	IWK Children's Hospital, Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, United Way
Community highlight	FBM established a Community Connections group to carry out the development of long-term community initiatives such as sustainability, affordable housing advocacy, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility

Recognized as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2025):

By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 7, 2025)

Here are some of the reasons why FBM Architecture Ltd. was selected as one of Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2025):

FBM helps cultivate an ownership culture with a share purchase plan available to all employees, and provides referral bonuses as an incentive for employees to recruit friends, up to $3,000 for successful hires
FBM's Party Planners, the firm's employee social committee, organizes a variety of social events throughout the year, including summer boat tours, bowling outings, winter family skating, an annual holiday party, summer social, and more
FBM helps employees plan for the long-term with retirement planning assistance services, as well as matching RSP contributions

Employees at the FBM head office (Photo credit: Greg Richardson)

Highlights

Industry	Architectural services
Established in Canada	1917
Major Canadian locations	Halifax NS
Full-time employees in Canada	51
Part-time employees in Canada	2
Full-time employee growth in the past year	8.5 %
Average age of employees in Canada	38.5 years
Longest serving employee	21 years
Long-term savings	matching RSP, non-matching RSP
Health plan premium	as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 50% of the premiums
Flexible work options	hybrid work option, flexible work hours, compressed work week, telecommuting
Vacation allowance	new employees receive 2 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
In-house training initiatives	in-house training, online training, mentoring, leadership development programs, paid internships
Tuition subsidies (related to job)	yes
Performance recognition	on-the-spot rewards, tailored and unique rewards (e.g. travel), long-service awards

Flexible work options	hybrid work option, flexible work hours, telecommuting, compressed work week
Commuter amenities	walk to public transit, transit subsidies, secure/sheltered bicycle parking
Onsite workplace features	21,000-square-foot mass timber office building, the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada, inside, the workplace features multiple breakout spaces, private meeting rooms, telecommuter workstations, sit-stand workstations, private phone booth, religious observance room, self-serve lunchroom, and a rooftop garden and patio, shower facilities

Employee performance reviews	employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months
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	on-the-spot rewards, long-service awards, tailored and unique rewards (e.g. travel)

FBM Architecture Ltd.

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