Top Employer: House of Commons Administration

Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2021) and National Capital Region's Top Employers (2021):

By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 12, 2020)

Here are some of the reasons why House of Commons Administration was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2021) and National Capital Region's Top Employers (2021):

With an impressively diverse workforce, the House of Commons Administration encourages ongoing training and development through a number of initiatives, including leadership development programs, language training (English and French), and in-house apprenticeships for its trade services department (to maintain the intricate wood and metalwork of Canada's Parliament buildings)
The House of Commons Administration offers exceptional maternity and parental leave top-up payments for new mothers (up to 93 per cent of salary for up to 52 weeks), as well as parental leave top-up for new fathers and adoptive parents (to 93 per cent of salary for up to 37 weeks) -- additionally, employees have the option to extend their leave to an unpaid leave of absence and can take advantage of onsite child care when they are ready to return
The House of Commons Administration helps employees plan for a secure retirement with retirement planning assistance and contributions to a defined benefit pension plan -- employees nearing retirement can also ease into life after work with phased-in work options

Employees discuss leadership culture at a Next Generation Network event, aimed at fostering professional growth within The House of Commons Administration (Photo credit: Bernard Thibodeau)

Employer Background

Industry	Legislative bodies
Established in Canada	1867
Major Canadian hiring locations	Ottawa ON
Full-time employees in Canada	1,924
Part-time employees in Canada	493
Workforce engaged on a contract basis	20.08%
Average age of employees in Canada	42.6 years
Longest serving employee	45.23 years

COVID-19

Pandemic response

flexible work schedules and leave options for employees who require time (illness, family illness, child care), additional communications and COVID-19-related resources, webinars on wellness and mental health (topics include building resilience, strategies to managing stress, calming your mind in challenging times)

Physical Workplace Rating: A+

Commuter amenities	free parking, electric vehicle charging stations, secure/sheltered bicycle parking, nearby bike sharing station
Workplace features	unique head office is the iconic Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, the buildings are in the midst of a long-term renovation program, with employees also working at other satellite locations nearby, shuttle service available between Parliamentary Precinct buildings and parking areas, workplace features a trade services division (located outside of the downtown), sit-stand workstations, private phone booth, sleep pods, religious observance room
Employee lounge amenities	comfortable seating, television
Onsite cafeteria	healthy menus, special diet menus, take-home meals, (a total of 6 cafeterias and canteens are available to employees across the organization)
Onsite fitness facility	for employees only, free membership, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, instructor-led classes (yoga, boot camp, pilates), elliptical trainers, rowing machines, weights, shower facilities
Other nearby amenities	YMCA, Jack Purcell Recreation Centre, Confederation Park, Major's Hill Park, Gatineau Park, National Arts Centre, CF Rideau Centre, ByWard Market

Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B+

Past social events	annual Open House hosted by the Clerk's management group, holiday reception hosted on Parliament Hill during working hours, breakfast reception hosted by the Speaker, workplace inclusion commemorative events, various potluck lunches across the organization throughout the year
Cultural aspects	business-casual dress daily, dress-for-your-day policy, casual dress (e.g. jeans) daily, casual dress Fridays, music while working, employee sports teams
Employee communications	intranet site, company newsletter, internal social media

Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: A

Financial benefits note	House of Commons Administration has multiple employee groups, financial benefits may vary by position
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-benefit (DB) pension
Long-term planning	retirement planning assistance, phased-in retirement work options, life & disability insurance
Additional financial benefits	year-end bonuses for some employees

Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: A+

Health plan note	House of Commons Administration has multiple employee groups, health plans may vary by position
Health plan premium	as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 100% of the premiums
Waiting period	there is no waiting period for coverage
Family coverage option	yes
Retiree coverage with no age limit	yes
Dental coverage	routine, restorative, orthodontics
Paid sick days	employees receive 15 days off each year
Health plan includes	traditional coverage (e.g. prescription drugs), 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)
Mental health practitioner benefit	up to $2,000 each year
Wellness initiatives	learn-at-lunch sessions on topics such as supporting the caregiver, establishing work-life balance, and healthy eating on the go, Wellness Centre (offers immediate access to nurse counsellors, lifestyle improvement programs, personal coaching and programs that promote physical and mental health), Wellness Month in February (events hosted every week, from blood pressure clinics to assertiveness training)
Family-friendly benefits note	House of Commons Administration has multiple employee groups, family-friendly policies may vary by position
Maternity top-up (mothers)	up to 93% of salary for 18 weeks
Parental top-up (mothers)	up to 93% of salary for 37 weeks
Parental top-up (fathers)	up to 93% of salary for 37 weeks
Adoption top-up	up to 93% of salary for 37 weeks
Additional family-friendly benefits	extended parental leave to unpaid leave, child care onsite
Flexible work options	flexible work hours, 35-hour work week (with full pay), shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, telecommuting, reduced summer hours

Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: A

Vacation note	House of Commons Administration has multiple employee groups, vacation policies may vary by position
Vacation allowance	new employees receive 4 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
Maximum vacation allowance	employees move to a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation over their career
Previous experience	considers previous work experience when setting annual vacation for new employees
Personal paid days off	employees can schedule 1 personal day off each year, as needed
Unpaid leave maximum	60 months
Self-funded/deferred salary leave maximum	12 months

Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: B+

Employee performance reviews	employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 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, on-the-spot rewards, peer-to-peer recognition awards, long-service awards, tailored and unique rewards (e.g. travel)
In-house survey period	in-house surveys are conducted every 48 months
Outside survey period	outside consultant surveys are held every 48 months

Training & Skills Development Rating: A

Career planning	in-house career planning services
In-house training initiatives	apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, in-house training, online training, leadership training, subsidies for professional accreditation
Related tuition subsidies	employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year
Unrelated tuition subsidies	employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year for courses unrelated to current position
Unique training & development programs	formal onboarding program for new employees (features dedicated website, Parliamentary tour, a special breakfast, and an "onboarding buddy" who welcomes them on their first day), Clerk's leadership program for senior managers, French and English-language training)

Community Involvement Rating: B+

Scope of charitable involvement	local, national, international
Employee charitable involvement	employees are involved in selection of charities
Total employee volunteer hours (on company time)	over 937 hours last year
Community highlight	The House of Commons Administration focuses its charitable efforts on poverty, communities and youth. Additionally, the organization participates in the annual Workplace Charitable Campaign, a fundraising campaign in support of United Way, Centraide Outaouais, HealthPartners and other registered Canadian charities.

Recognized as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2021):

By Kristina Leung, Stephanie Leung, and Jing Wang, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Jan 18, 2021)

Here are some of the reasons why House of Commons Administration was selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2021):

Each year, House of Commons Administration selects 40 students from CEGEPs and high schools across Canada to participate in a dedicated Page Program -- students have the opportunity to witness the legislative process first-hand and work on a part-time basis during their first year of study at a university in the National Capital region
Additionally, House of Commons Administration manages a year-round student employment program, offering positions to secondary and post-secondary students in a variety of disciplines
House of Commons Administration maintains the Next Gen Network, a community of practice to provide employees with professional development opportunities outside of a formal classroom as well as act as an interactive forum for discussion and reflection -- the network is open to all employees and is focused on developing leadership skills and increasing engagement and connection

A student in the House of Commons Administration's dedicated Page Program (Photo credit: Bernard Thibodeau)

Highlights

Industry	Legislative bodies
Major Canadian hiring locations	Ottawa ON
Full-time employees in Canada	1,924
Student opportunities	summer jobs, co-op opportunities
In-house training programs	orientation program, in-house training, online training, in-house career planning services, leadership training, apprenticeship/skilled trades programs
Related tuition subsidies	employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year
Unique training and development opportunities	junior labour relations advisory pilot program (to further develop a junior human resources professional through training and practical work experience), 3-year Apprenticeship Program for Trades Services (consists of 24 units that correspond to an area of technical competency, also includes mentorship, problem-solving and creative thinking assignments), second-language training courses and workshops, assignment opportunities to facilitate knowledge transfer and career development
Additional highlights	tailored half-day orientation for students (includes an overview of the organization, program and career paths, speed-meeting activity, and goals and objectives reflection activity)
Dedicated employee resource group	Next Gen Network, student-led social club (events include a visit with the Dominion Carillonneur, guided tours of Parliament, and breakfast meet-ups)
Vacation allowance	new employees receive 4 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job

The Career Directory

House of Commons Administration has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.

Brigitte Lemire (left) and Robyn Daigle (right), employees at The House of Commons Administration, collaborate in one of the head office's flexible work spaces

Highlights for New Grads

Industry	Legislative bodies
Full-time employees in Canada	1,001 to 2,500
Major Canadian hiring locations	Ottawa ON
Student opportunities	summer jobs, co-op placements in business administration, commerce, computer engineering, computer science, interior design, and networking engineering, to name a few, co-op opportunities
Training	subsidies for professional accreditation, orientation program, online training, in-house training, in-house career planning services, leadership training
Tuition subsidies (related to job)	yes
Starting salary	$60K to $65K
Work benefits	health benefits for new employees, flexible work hours, telecommuting
Vacation allowance	new employees receive 4 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job

Academic fields recruited

Bachelor of Arts
- Architecture - Design/History
- Business
- Criminology
- Economics
- English
- French
- Human Resources
- Industrial Relations
- Journalism
- Museum Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Relations / Communications
- Social Work
- Sociology
Bachelor of Commerce / Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Hotel / Food Services
- Human Resources
- Information Systems
- Marketing
- Public Administration
Bachelor of Education
- Adult
Bachelor of Engineering
- Architectural / Building / Construction
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical
- Microelectronics
- Telecommunications
Bachelor of Laws
- Corporate
- Labour
Bachelor of Science
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
Community College Diploma
- Accounting
- Advertising
- Architecture Technician
- Audio/Video Technician
- Autocad
- Business
- Carpentry
- Communications / Public Relations
- Computer Science
- Cooking / Chef Training
- Electronics Technician
- Engineering Technician
- Facility Management
- Financial Planning
- Graphic Arts / Design
- Hospitality
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- Journalism
- Legal Assistant / Law Clerk
- Marketing / Sales
- Office Administration
- Other Trades
- Photography
- Purchasing / Logistics
- Travel and Tourism
Master of Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Information Systems
- Public Administration
Professional Accreditation
- Accounting (CA)
- Accounting (CGA)
- Accounting (CMA)
- Cisco Certifications
- Financial Planning (CFP, FMA)
- Human Resources (CHRP, CEBS)
- Interior Design (NCIDQ)
- Logistics (CITT, CIFFA)
- Microsoft Certifications
- Novell Certifications
- Other Business / Technical/ Industry Certifications
- Professional Engineer
- Purchasing Management (PMAC, CPP)
- Quality Assurance (TQM)
- Travel Counsellor (CTC)
Secondary Education
- High School Diploma

Recruits at these schools

Algonquin College

Carleton University

La Cité collégiale

University of Ottawa

House of Commons Administration

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