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 Provincial Credit Union Ltd. was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Atlantic Canada's Top Employers (2025):
- Provincial Credit Union encourages employees to give back to the local community with two paid days off to volunteer and the Pay it Forward initiative, providing employees with $50 to "pay it forward," whether used as a donation to a charity they love or to buy a grocery gift card for a family in need -- the only parameter is to keep initiatives local
- Provincial Credit Union supports all new parents with maternity and parental leave top-up (to 75 per cent of salary for up to 26 weeks) and offers the option for parents to extend their leave into an unpaid leave of absence
- Along with being located in one of the country's most beautiful vacation destinations, Provincial Credit Union starts new employees with three weeks of paid vacation, working to a maximum of six weeks over their careers -- and helps employees manage their day-to-day responsibilities with additional personal paid time off to attend to personal matters (up to 30 hours per year for full-time employees)
Provincial Credit Union employees, Caroline Nicholson, account manager, Kathyrn Gallant, account manager, Linda McGibbon, CHRO, and Lolia Dagogo, member services representative attend the PEI Business Women's Associate Networking event
Provincial Credit Union employees, Caroline Nicholson, account manager, Kathyrn Gallant, account manager, Linda McGibbon, CHRO, and Lolia Dagogo, member services representative attend the PEI Business Women's Associate Networking event
Provincial Credit Union employees, Caroline Nicholson, account manager, Kathyrn Gallant, account manager, Linda McGibbon, CHRO, and Lolia Dagogo, member services representative attend the PEI Business Women's Associate Networking event
Employer Background
| Industry | Credit unions |
| Established in Canada | 2021 |
| Major Canadian locations | Tyne Valley PE, Tignish PE, Stratford PE, North Rustico PE, O'Leary PE, Montague PE, Kensington PE, Wellington PE, Charlottetown PE, Alberton PE |
| Full-time employees in Canada | 172 |
| Part-time employees in Canada | 23 |
| Workforce engaged on a contract basis | 6% |
| Average age of employees in Canada | 45 years |
| Longest serving employee | 40 years |
Work Environment Rating: B
| Flexible work options | hybrid work option, flexible work hours, telecommuting, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, job-sharing program |
| Commuter amenities | walk to public transit, free parking, electric vehicle charging stations |
| Onsite workplace features | telecommuter workstations, sit-stand workstations, self-serve lunchroom |
Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B+
| Employee social committee name | PCU Social Committee (est. 2023) |
| Past social events | numerous fun events throughout the year, including a spring family party, an East Coast art party, the "Branch Positive Thinking Day" (with mid-morning treats), pumpkin carving contest at Halloween, door decorating contest and the "Who's the Grinch" contest during the Christmas season |
| Cultural aspects | business-casual dress daily, casual dress Fridays |
| Employee communications | intranet site, company newsletter, traditional/email suggestion box |
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 | phased-in retirement work options |
| Year-end bonuses | available to all employees |
| Referral bonuses (max) | new employee referral bonuses (up to $1,500) for some positions |
| Additional financial benefits | low-interest home loans, annual clothing allowance (up to $750 per year), discounted banking fees (from safety deposit boxes to mortgage rates to everyday banking) |
Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: A
| Health plan premium | as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 100% of the premiums |
| Minimum hours worked for coverage | 19 hours per week |
| Waiting period for coverage | 90 days |
| Family coverage option | yes |
| Retiree coverage option | up to 65 years of age |
| Dental coverage | routine, restorative, orthodontics |
| Eyecare | $250 every 2 years |
| Paid sick days | employees receive 10 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) |
| Mental health practitioner benefit | up to $2,000 each year |
| Fitness club subsidy | up to $200 each year |
| Additional health plan information | retirees can stay enrolled in the health plan (until age 65) with sliding premium coverage based on years of service (from 25% to 75% premium coverage) |
| Maternity top-up (mothers) | up to 75% of salary for 26 weeks |
| Parental top-up (fathers) | up to 75% of salary for 26 weeks |
| Adoption top-up | up to 75% of salary for 26 weeks |
| Additional family-friendly benefits | extended parental leave to unpaid leave, academic scholarships of up to $500 per child |
| Additional family-friendly information | personal days/time off (30 hours annually) can be used to take care of personal matters during work hours (part-time employees also receive a pro-rated personal time allotment), academic bursary program for children of employees (to $500) pursuing post-secondary studies after high school graduation |
Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: B+
| Vacation allowance | new employees receive 3 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 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 4 personal days off each year, as needed |
Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: B+
| 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 | individual performance bonuses, peer-to-peer recognition awards, long-service awards |
| In-house survey period | in-house surveys are conducted every 2 months |
Training & Skills Development Rating: B
| 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 |
Community Involvement Rating: A
| Scope of charitable involvement | local |
| Employee charitable involvement | employees are involved in selection of charities, employees receive paid time off to volunteer, (up to 2 paid days) |
| Total number of charities supported last year | approximately 250 charitable and community organizations were supported last year |
| Some of the community organizations supported | Local 2 Loyal Challenge, Rock the Boat Music Fest, Financial Literacy program, PEI Connectors, PEI Business Women's Association, academic scholarships (available to students province-wide), Town of North Rustico (summer concert series), Tignish Seniors Home Care Co-op, University Prince Edward Island UCUP Sponsor (athletic sponsorship), to name a few |
| Community highlight | Provincial Credit Union's charitable program is built around support for local initiatives -- each department receives a budget to encourage "Random Acts of Kindness" in their community (employees decide what organizations and individuals to support, from paying for groceries, to providing treats at a local daycare to giving a gift card) and the "Pay it Forward" initiative (employees receive $50 to pay forward in whatever way they decide, with the only condition is to keep it local) |