McMaster University

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1280 Main St W
Gilmour Hall, Room 304, Human Resources Services
Hamilton, ON L8S 4L4
Founded in 1887, McMaster University is a post-secondary institute that serves over 31,000 students.

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McMaster University
Custodian Stacey Smith outside the psychology building at McMaster University   (Photo credit: Georgia Kirkos)

Recognized as one of Hamilton-Niagara's Top Employers (2025):

By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Jan 15, 2025)

Here are some of the reasons why McMaster University was selected as one of Hamilton-Niagara's Top Employers (2025):

  • McMaster University helps employees prepare for life after work with retirement planning assistance services along with a defined benefit pension plan -- and some employees have the option of transitioning away from full-time work with phased-in retirement work options
  • Varying by role and employee group, McMaster University offers a complete suite of alternative and flexible work options to help employees balance their work and personal lives, including hybrid options, flexible hours, shortened and compressed work weeks and reduced summer hours
  • McMaster University makes working on-site easy and attractive with over 20 on-campus food outlets, subsidized memberships to its extensive fitness facilities (for employees and their families), an on-site theatre, greenhouse, community garden, libraries, art studio, on-site pharmacy, optometrist, on-site daycare, and more
McMaster University employees Saher Fazilat (left) and Sean Van Koughnett (right) attend a staff barbecue   (Photo credit: Georgia Kirkos)

    Highlights

    Industry Post secondary schools, university
    Established in Canada 1887
    Major Canadian locations Kitchener ON, Hamilton ON, Burlington ON, Waterloo ON, Niagara Falls ON
    Full-time employees in Canada 7,236
    Part-time employees in Canada 10,981
    Average age of employees in Canada 38.68 years
    Longest serving employee 57.78 years
    Benefits note McMaster University has multiple employee groups, the following programs and policies may vary by position
    Flexible work options hybrid work option, flexible work hours, 35-hour work week (with full pay), compressed work week, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), telecommuting, reduced summer hours
    Long-term savings defined-benefit (DB) pension
    Health plan premium as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 100% of the premiums
    Health spending account up to $400 each year
    Maternity top-up (mothers) up to 90% of salary for 17 weeks
    Parental top-up (mothers) up to 90% of salary for 19 weeks
    Parental top-up (fathers) up to 90% of salary for 19 weeks
    Adoption top-up up to 90% of salary for 19 weeks
    Vacation allowance new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
    Outside survey period outside consultant surveys are held every 24 months
    Employee performance reviews employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months
    In-house training initiatives apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, in-house training, online training, mentoring, leadership development programs
    Related tuition subsidies employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year
    Annual tuition maximum employer pays up to $3,573 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year
    Employee charitable involvement employees are involved in selection of charities, employees receive paid time off to volunteer, (up to 1 paid day)

    Recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2025):

    By Kristina Leung, Chantel Watkins, and Cypress Weston, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Feb 24, 2025)

    Here are some of the reasons why McMaster University was selected as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2025):

    • In collaboration with Indigenous groups, the Indigenous Education Council and McMaster Indigenous Research Institute (MIRI), McMaster University maintains the Indigenous Strategic Directions to advance reconciliation -- the strategy acts as a guide for the university with four main goals of research, education, student experience, leadership and governance
    • McMaster University's vice-provost of equity and inclusion leads the university's Equity and Inclusion Office and provides strategic leadership guidance and advice on the implementation of McMaster's EDI strategy
    • Equitable recruitment and selection committee training is mandatory for all McMaster University employees participating in faculty search committees, ensuring equitable consideration of applicants throughout preparation, recruitment, assessment, and selection phases -- the university also recently developed equitable staff hiring guidelines including resources, tools and templates to support the recruitment cycle
    Campus safety services team members at McMaster University   (Photo credit: Georgia Kirkos)
      When we're talking about diversity, equity, inclusion, there can also be perception of we're never doing enough. But as long as we're moving in a positive direction, that builds on itself. And if we're moving in a journey, the next step forward allows us to gain more insight, be more open, be more inclusive. Chad T Harvey, associate professor, School of Interdisciplinary Science

      Highlights

      Industry Post secondary schools, university
      Major Canadian locations Kitchener ON, Hamilton ON, Burlington ON, Waterloo ON, Niagara Falls ON
      Full-time employees in Canada 7,236
      Management of diversity and inclusion initiatives equity and inclusion office and institution-wide equity, diversity and inclusion strategy, equity, diversity and inclusion steering committee (with 8 implementation teams to advance strategic actions), president's advisory committee on building an inclusive community (provides advice to the president and directs questions and recommendations to relevant offices, various working groups within the committee, including race, racism and racialization, gender and sexuality, and First Nations, Métis and Inuit, to name a few), Indigenous education council (provides advice, guidance and direction on matters related to Indigenous strategic directions), accessibility project coordinator (ensures delivery of AccessMac's training, consultation, and community engagement offerings)
      Performance management and accountability enhanced employment equity census report includes leadership composition, intersectional data and labour market availability, census data is shared with all faculties and administration units to measure progress, completion rates, composition and gap analysis are shared with faculties and departments to support strategic planning
      Employee resource groups employee accessibility network (acts as a consultive group, support network, and provides a safe space for employees with disabilities), employee resource group for Black, Indigenous and Racialized Staff
      Recruitment initiatives institutional partnerships with diverse communities and organization, standardized equitable recruitment and search committee training, faculty recruitment and selection policy and handbook for faculties (developing policies for clinical faculty), completed summary forms for faculty appointments are presented to the dean for approval followed by the provost to ensure implementation of inclusive faculty recruitment policy, employment equity facilitator program supports and coordinates a decentralized team of faculty and staff hiring managers, equitable staff hiring guidelines (includes supporting resources, tools and templates)
      Retention and development programs employment equity team supports advancement and retention, many faculties and departments have dedicated equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives
      Training and awareness initiatives Inclusive Excellence Leadership program for all academic and non-academic people managers, year-long Let’s Talk about Race Series for racialized students, staff and faculty, prevention and response training (topics include harassment, discrimination, anti-oppression, accessibility, accommodation and other human rights related issues)
      Diversity highlights working in consultation and collaboration with the Indigenous Education Council to develop training and employment-related initiatives for Indigenous staff and faculty through the Indigenous Strategic Directions

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