Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2023), Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers (2022) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2023):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 17, 2022)
Here are some of the reasons why Hospital for Sick Children, The was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2023), Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers (2022) and Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2023):
- SickKids offers extensive wellness programming to encourage employees to make healthy choices for their physical, social and mental well-being -- initiatives include virtual fitness classes, wellness challenges, and a dedicated stretching program
- SickKids fosters a culture of recognition through an on-the-spot platform that enables employees to recognize their peers, leaders or staff for demonstrating the organization's values -- and honours individuals and teams who contribute to the organization in exceptional ways through the President's Award
- SickKids' unionized and non-union employees can plan for the future through the security of a defined benefit pension plan and can access retirement-related resources through an online pension centre

SickKids employees video conferencing with colleagues across Canada to share knowledge
Employer Background
Industry | Hospitals |
Established in Canada | 1875 |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Toronto ON |
Full-time employees in Canada | 6,129 |
Part-time employees in Canada | 682 |
Workforce engaged on a contract basis | 24.76% |
Average age of employees in Canada | 40.21 years |
Longest serving employee | 49.5 years |
Work Environment Rating: A
Hybrid work | workplace flexibility policy for eligible employees (includes the deployment of needed technology and equipment to employees' homes) |
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 |
Commuter amenities | walk to public transit, online carpool sign-up, subsidized parking, electric vehicle charging stations, secure/sheltered bicycle parking, nearby bike sharing station |
Onsite workplace features | the SickKids campus consists of several buildings including the LEED Gold-certified Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, which features multiple atriums with floor-to-ceiling windows, televisions and lounge areas, additional workplace features include a garden terrace and patio, original artwork displayed in hallways and offices, an onsite Shoppers Drug Mart owned and operated by the hospital (with no dispensing fees for employees), 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, television |
Snacks available | Peer Support Tea Caddy provides free refreshments and snacks with peers conducting wellness check-ins with staff (hot chocolate, juices, teas, coffee, granola bars, chips, chocolates, and cookies) |
Onsite cafeteria | healthy menus, special diet menus, take-home meals, (Terrace Café serves healthy options and Ontario-sourced food products) |
Other food options at main location | food court area with numerous food options, Starbucks and Tim Hortons, a hospital-owned specialty food store that provides organic, gluten-free and allergen-free food options |
Onsite fitness facility | for employees only, subsidized membership, treadmills, stationary bikes, instructor-led classes (yoga, high-intensity interval training, 15-minute stretch breaks), elliptical trainers, weights, shower facilities, onsite 2,400 square-foot Wellness Centre also includes a fitness studio, onsite massage therapy (at discounted rates), fitness assessments, personal training, cooking workshops, exercise coaching and nutrition seminars |
Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B
Past social events | replaced its annual in-person celebration of excellence event, provided staff with an opportunity to register for a meal voucher at the Terrace Café or to receive a surprise gift bag (employees were also entered into a raffle draw for a chance to win additional prizes), complimentary holiday meals available to staff who are required to work on an observed religious holiday |
Cultural aspects | dress-for-your-day policy, casual dress Fridays, music while working |
Employee communications | intranet site, company newsletter, traditional/email suggestion box, internal social media |
Other in-house communications | open forum town halls, ongoing executive "walkarounds" to bring senior leadership face-to-face with front-line and operational employees, Tea with Tee (the organization's executive lead and strategic advisor, equity, diversity and inclusion) |
Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: A
Financial benefits note | SickKids 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 |
Additional financial benefits | year-end bonuses for some employees, access to discounts through a partnership with WorkPerks and hosts an annual vendor fair to showcase savings and discounts |
Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: A
Health plan note | SickKids has multiple employee groups, health plans may vary by position |
Health plan premium | as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 75% of the premiums |
Minimum hours worked for coverage | 18 hours per week |
Waiting period for coverage | 90 days |
Family coverage option | yes |
Dental coverage | routine, restorative, orthodontics |
Eyecare | $300 every 2 years |
Paid sick days | employees receive 5 days off each year |
Health plan includes | traditional coverage (e.g. prescription drugs), semi-private hospital room, physiotherapy, medical travel insurance, medical equipment and supplies, massage therapy, podiatrist, osteopathy, chiropractor |
Mental health practitioner benefit | up to $1,500 each year |
Additional health and wellness initiatives | wellness committees and champions, dedicated mental health strategy, peer support program, in-house wellness programming (healthy eating webinars, mindful stretching program, mindfulness workshops), virtual fitness classes, healthy lifestyle challenges (step challenge, cooking competition) |
Family-friendly benefits note | SickKids has multiple employee groups, family-friendly policies may vary by position |
In vitro fertilization (IVF) | $2,400 per lifetime |
Maternity top-up (mothers) | up to 84% of salary for 15 weeks |
Parental top-up (mothers) | up to 84% of salary for 10 weeks |
Parental top-up (fathers) | up to 84% of salary for 25 weeks |
Adoption top-up | up to 84% of salary for 25 weeks |
Additional family-friendly benefits | extended parental leave to unpaid leave |
Additional family-friendly information | depending on employee group, some employees receive maternity and parental leave top-up of 93% of salary for up to 26 weeks, and parental leave top-up (for fathers and adoptive parents) of 93% of salary for up to 11 weeks |
Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: B
Vacation note | SickKids has multiple employee groups, vacation policies may vary by position |
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
Vacation jump | vacation increases after 4 years of employment |
Maximum vacation allowance | employees move to a maximum of 7 weeks of vacation over their career |
Personal paid days off | employees can schedule 2 personal days off each year, as needed |
Unpaid leave maximum | 3 months |
Additional time-off information | depending on their grouping, employees receive 2 to 4 weeks of paid vacation to start |
Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: A
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, President's Award to honour individuals and teams who embody the organization's values, Good Catch Award for individuals who prevented staff or patient harm |
In-house survey period | in-house surveys are conducted every 24 months |
Outside survey period | outside consultant surveys are held every 24 months |
Training & Skills Development Rating: A
Career planning | in-house career planning services, online employee skills inventory |
In-house training initiatives | mentoring, in-house training, online training, paid internships, subsidies for professional accreditation |
Related tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 50% of tuition per year |
Annual tuition maximum | employer pays up to $20,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year |
Unique training & development programs | specialized orientation and training programs for medical personnel, extensive leadership development training, the Learning Institute (has a mandate to support educational initiatives, offering a range of learning opportunities), career development, workshops and events for all research personnel through the Research Institute |
Community Involvement Rating: A
Scope of charitable involvement | local, national, international |
Employee charitable involvement | employees are involved in selection of charities |
Some of the community organizations supported | United Way, Canadian Blood Services |
Community highlight | SickKids' charitable focus includes children's health, research and education, and supporting the local community. In the past year, the organization supported humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and assisted in the transit of children with cancer to continue their treatment in Canada. The longstanding SickKids Foundation is a focal point for employee involvement and fundraising efforts. |
Recognized as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2023):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Jan 23, 2023)
Here are some of the reasons why Hospital for Sick Children, The was selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2023):
- SickKids collaborates with University Health Network and Nipissing University for an accelerated second degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Scholar Practitioner program, producing nurses who are "practice-ready" -- as a participating organization, SickKids employs approximately 20 students in each cohort and has hired outstanding new graduate nurses from the program since its launch in 2011
- SickKids offers a preceptorship program, connecting experienced staff with novice health care practitioners and students as they learn to apply their practice (over 850 interprofessional staff participated in the program in 2021) -- interprofessional preceptors complete an introductory workshop and two advanced preceptor courses, with further training for those who have been in a preceptor role for at least a year to address coaching, feedback, assessment and evaluation for more complex teaching-learning situations
- Undergraduate and medical students can also gain valuable skills through SickKids' summer research program, which includes a 15-week scientific and career development curriculum as well as opportunities for students to conduct research in a laboratory or clinical setting under the supervision of a SickKids scientist

SickKids employees star in 'The SKOOP,' a YouTube and closed-circuit TV channel produced in-hospital specifically to help children and youth cope with hospitalization
Highlights
Industry | Hospitals |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Toronto ON |
Full-time employees in Canada | 6,129 |
Student opportunities | summer jobs, co-op opportunities, paid internships |
In-house training programs | orientation program, in-house training, online training, in-house career planning services, online employee skills inventory, mentoring |
Related tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 50% of tuition per year |
Annual tuition maximum | employer pays up to $20,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year |
Unique training and development opportunities | Research Institute and its Research Training Centre supports undergraduate, graduate students and research fellows with a robust curriculum, offers a range of educational initiatives and learning opportunities through the Learning Institute (including a simulation program, which allows individuals and teams to practice routine procedures, recognize and treat rare conditions, and practice life-saving techniques in a real-time environment), Teaching Scholars Program (focuses on the essentials of adult learning to enhance the teaching skills of health care professionals), SickKids Mentorship Academy to support the mentoring program and Mentor Boot Camp supports the skills required in a mentorship relationship, emerging leader program, Principal Investigator (PI) Prep School (provides research fellows with hands-on coaching to prepare for careers in academia including mock interviews, negotiation seminars, and a $10,000 seed grant to support independent research), career development programs, job search series (career seminars led by industry leaders) |
Additional highlights | summer research program allows undergraduate and medical students to conduct research in a laboratory or clinical setting, participates in the New Graduate Guarantee (nurses), Career Night (an opportunity for students, postdoctoral fellows and research associates to meet and network with industry professionals), clinical extern program for final-year nursing students, graduate dietetic internship program (participants receive Professional Master's Diploma in Dietetics from Toronto Metropolitan University upon completion) |
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |