Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 14, 2024)
Here are some of the reasons why Second Harvest Canada was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025):
- Second Harvest Canada starts new employees with four weeks of paid vacation, adding one day every year to a maximum of six weeks -- and employees can transfer up to five unused vacation days to the following year
- Second Harvest Canada support new mothers with generous maternity and parental leave top-up payments (to 80 per cent of salary for 52 weeks) as well as extending parental leave top-up to fathers, adoptive parents and secondary caregivers (to 80 per cent for 35 weeks)
- Second Harvest Canada supports more than 4,400 charities and non-profits in Canada with rescued food and with research and advocacy for the charitable sector, providing a clear purpose and meaning for employees in their work (an intangible but uniquely important benefit)
![](https://static.eluta.ca/i6/sq/review_slide_07_2025_00_small_a0657eeafc2506e612d502157ce41929.jpg)
Expecting employees at Second Harvest Canada receive a gift from the organization
![](https://static.eluta.ca/i6/sq/review_slide_07_2025_00_small_a0657eeafc2506e612d502157ce41929.jpg)
Expecting employees at Second Harvest Canada receive a gift from the organization
![](https://static.eluta.ca/i6/sq/review_slide_07_2025_00_small_a0657eeafc2506e612d502157ce41929.jpg)
Expecting employees at Second Harvest Canada receive a gift from the organization
Employer Background
Industry | Community Food Services |
Established in Canada | 1985 |
Major Canadian locations | Toronto ON |
Full-time employees in Canada | 101 |
Part-time employees in Canada | 7 |
Workforce engaged on a contract basis | 5% |
Average age of employees in Canada | 40 years |
Longest serving employee | 20 years |
Work Environment Rating: B+
Flexible work options | hybrid work option, flexible work hours, 35-hour work week (with full pay), telecommuting, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, reduced summer hours, formal "Disconnecting from Work" policy (to encourage great work-life balance) |
Commuter amenities | walk to public transit, online carpool sign-up, free parking, electric vehicle charging stations, secure/sheltered bicycle parking, nearby bike sharing station |
Onsite workplace features | telecommuter workstations, sit-stand workstations, private phone booth, nap room, religious observance room, self-serve lunchroom, outdoor patio, discounts at local restaurants |
Employee lounge amenities | comfortable seating, music, television, table tennis, library, second kitchen located in the warehouse area |
Other food options at main location | employees often share homemade baked goods and treats |
Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B+
Employee social committee name | SOCO (est. 2018) |
Past social events | summer barbecue, winter pancake breakfast, virtual coffee breaks, annual general meeting in November for all employees (hosted at GameTime Social in nearby Mississauga) |
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 communications | intranet site, company newsletter, traditional/email suggestion box, internal social media |
Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: B+
Financial benefits note | Second Harvest Canada 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 |
Additional financial benefits | year-end bonuses for some employees, corporate discount program (e.g. retail, services, travel, etc.) |
Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: A+
Health plan note | Second Harvest Canada 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 |
Minimum hours worked for coverage | 24 hours per week |
Waiting period | there is no waiting period for coverage |
Family coverage option | yes |
Dental coverage | routine, restorative |
Eyecare | $200 every 24 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, chiropractor |
Mental health practitioner benefit | up to $1,000 each year |
Health spending account | up to $500 each year |
Additional health and wellness initiatives | formal Mental Healthh and Wellbeing Committee manages a monthly newsletter, hosts an annual Wellbeing survey, sponsors awareness events (including Blue Monday, World Mental Health Day, and Self-Care Day in July), and hosts the annual March Movement Challenge |
Maternity top-up (mothers) | up to 80% of salary for 17 weeks |
Parental top-up (mothers) | up to 80% of salary for 35 weeks |
Parental top-up (fathers) | up to 80% of salary for 35 weeks |
Adoption top-up | up to 80% of salary for 35 weeks |
Additional family-friendly benefits | extended parental leave to unpaid leave, phased-in return to work for new parents, compassionate top-up to 80% of salary for 26 weeks |
Additional family-friendly information | employees on leave have the option to stay connected with company updates including job postings announcements and are invited to attend all social gatherings |
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 6 years of employment |
Maximum vacation allowance | employees move to a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation over their career |
Paid summer shutdown | employees receive 2 days off during the summer months |
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 |
Unpaid leave of absence option | yes |
Additional time-off information | paid vacation increases by 1 day for every year of service (to the 6 week maximum), up to 5 vacation days can be transferred to the next calendar year |
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, individual performance bonuses, on-the-spot rewards, long-service awards |
In-house survey period | in-house surveys are conducted every 12 months |
Training & Skills Development Rating: B+
Career planning | online employee skills inventory |
In-house training initiatives | mentoring, in-house training, online training, leadership development programs, paid internships, subsidies for professional accreditation, mentoring to transfer retirees' skills |
Annual tuition maximum | employer pays up to $1,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year |
Community Involvement Rating: A
Scope of charitable involvement | local, national |
Employee charitable involvement | employees receive paid time off to volunteer, (up to 1 paid day) |
Total employee volunteer hours (on company time) | over 150 hours last year |
Total number of charities supported last year | approximately 4,400 charitable and community organizations were supported last year |
Some of the community organizations supported | through their work, employees support more than 4,400 charities and non-profits across Canada -- as well as create greater awareness through initiatives such as the Hungry of Change media campaign |
Community highlight | Second Harvest Canada raison d'être is to provide healthy surplus food to charities and non-profits across Canada, capturing surplus edible food from across the supply chain and redirecting it to non-profit food programs |
The Career Directory
Second Harvest Canada has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.
![](https://static.eluta.ca/i6/sq/review_slide_17_2024_00_small_c39b6832d1438036362f575bb60f4d5a.jpg)
Second Harvest Canada employee delivers fruit to a local agency in Toronto as part of the organization's annual ride-along staff program
![](https://static.eluta.ca/i6/sq/review_slide_17_2024_00_small_c39b6832d1438036362f575bb60f4d5a.jpg)
Second Harvest Canada employee delivers fruit to a local agency in Toronto as part of the organization's annual ride-along staff program
![](https://static.eluta.ca/i6/sq/review_slide_17_2024_00_small_c39b6832d1438036362f575bb60f4d5a.jpg)
Second Harvest Canada employee delivers fruit to a local agency in Toronto as part of the organization's annual ride-along staff program
Highlights for New Grads
Industry | Community Food Services |
Full-time employees in Canada | 101 to 250 |
Major Canadian locations | Toronto ON |
Student opportunities | paid internships, summer jobs |
Training | subsidies for professional accreditation, orientation program, online training, in-house training, mentoring |
Annual tuition maximum | employer pays up to $1,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year |
Typical new grad positions | Coordinator, Associate, Assistant |
Starting salary | $40K to $50K |
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
- Economics
- Geography
- Human Resources
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Urban Geography / Planning
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Bachelor of Commerce / Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Hotel / Food Services
- Human Resources
- Information Systems
- Marketing
-
Bachelor of Education
- Adult
-
Bachelor of Science
- Agriculture / Horticulture
- Environmental
- Geography
- Nutrition
- Psychology