Top Employer: Stryker Canada ULC

Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025), Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers (2025) and Hamilton-Niagara'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 Stryker Canada ULC was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025), Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers (2025) and Hamilton-Niagara's Top Employers (2025):

Stryker Canada provides generous maternity and parental leave top-up payments to new mothers and fathers, including adoptive parents (to 100 per cent of salary for 26 weeks) and supports parents-to-be with a subsidy for fertility drugs if needed (to a lifetime max of $15,000)
Stryker Canada organizes a variety of social events to encourage employees to get together, including a family day out at a CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats game, Canada Day and Ramadan celebrations, and a winter family skating outing
Stryker Canada starts new employees with three weeks of paid vacation and considers previous work experience when setting starting vacation entitlements for senior personnel

Stryker Canada team members collaborate at the Distribution Centre in Waterdown, ON (Photo credit: Martin Olszewski)

Employer Background

Industry	Medical equipment and supplies wholesalers
Established in Canada	1941
Publicly traded	yes
Parent company	Stryker Corp.
Parent company head office	Kalamazoo, MI, United States
Major Canadian locations	Burnaby BC, Waterdown ON
Full-time employees in Canada	754
Part-time employees in Canada	7
Full-time employees worldwide	52,000
Workforce engaged on a contract basis	2.65%
Average age of employees in Canada	39 years
Longest serving employee	48 years

Work Environment Rating: A

Flexible work options	hybrid work option, flexible work hours, telecommuting, employees work directly with managers to develop personalized hybrid working arrangements
Commuter amenities	free parking, electric vehicle charging stations, secure/sheltered bicycle parking
Onsite workplace features	telecommuter workstations, sit-stand workstations, private phone booth, religious observance room, outdoor patio, outdoor barbecue, discounts at local restaurants
Employee lounge amenities	comfortable seating, music, television, foosball table, table tennis, lounge areas include gourmet coffee machines along with a variety of tea options
Onsite fitness facility	for employees only, free membership, treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical trainers, rowing machines, weights, shower facilities

Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B+

Employee social committee name	Stryker Social Committee (est. 1999)
Past social events	family CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats game, annual Employee Appreciation Day with bingo, trivia, board games and a catered lunch, Canada Day celebrations, Ramadan festivities, winter family skate, Easter egg hunt, and more
Cultural aspects	business-casual dress daily, dress-for-your-day policy, casual dress (e.g. jeans) daily, music while working, employee sports teams
Employee communications	intranet site, company newsletter, internal social media
Other in-house communications	regular town hall meetings throughout the year

Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: B+

Outside salary surveys	participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months
Employee salary reviews	individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months
Long-term savings	matching RSP
Share purchase plan	available to all employees
Year-end bonuses	available to all employees
Referral bonuses (max)	new employee referral bonuses (up to $2,000) for some positions
Signing bonuses	available for some positions
Additional financial benefits	corporate discount program (e.g. retail, services, travel, etc.), discounted home insurance, discounted auto insurance, numerous corporate discounts on product and services (for employees, spouses and family members) though the Perkopolis discount program

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	15 hours per week
Waiting period	there is no waiting period for coverage
Family coverage option	yes
Dental coverage	routine, restorative, orthodontics
Eyecare	$300 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, podiatrist, osteopathy, chiropractor, alternative coverage (e.g. acupuncture, naturopathy)
Mental health practitioner benefit	up to $1,500 each year
Health spending account	up to $300 each year
Wellness spending account	up to $100 each year
Fitness club subsidy	up to $100 each year
Additional health plan information	departing employees can enrol in the "FollowMe Health" plan to maintain benefit coverage
Additional health and wellness initiatives	maintains a formal health and wellness committee (the SWELL Committee), spring mental health awareness campaign through Mental Health Awareness Month in May
Parental top-up (mothers)	up to 100% of salary for 26 weeks
Parental top-up (fathers)	up to 100% of salary for 26 weeks
Adoption top-up	up to 100% of salary for 26 weeks
Additional family-friendly benefits	extended parental leave to unpaid leave, phased-in return to work for new parents, compassionate top-up to 100% of salary for 12 weeks
Additional family-friendly information	Returnity Program (new formal program to help employee transition to and from leaves of absence)

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 4 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
Paid holiday shutdown	during the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 2 days off
Personal paid days off	employees can schedule 10 personal days off each year, as needed
Unpaid leave maximum	3 months

Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: A+

Employee performance reviews	employees receive individual performance reviews every 4 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, 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 12 months
Outside survey period	outside consultant surveys are held every 12 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, leadership development programs, paid internships, 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	dedicated talent manager development portal provides a single site for access to resources and programs

Community Involvement Rating: A+

Scope of charitable involvement	local, national, international
Employee charitable involvement	employees are involved in selection of charities, employees receive paid time off to volunteer, (up to 1 paid day)
Total number of charities supported last year	approximately 8 charitable and community organizations were supported last year
Some of the community organizations supported	Operation Smile (charity focused on the goal of making healthcare better), Canadian Blood Services, L'Arche Hamilton, The Willow Foundation, CityKidz, McMaster Children’s Hospital, Wesley Urban, Wayside House of Hamilton, UBC ICORD Summer Research Program
Charitable giving	matches employee donations, matches employee volunteer hours with company donations
Community highlight	Stryker Canada maintains a formal charitable giving committee that organizes events and fundraising campaigns every year (with employee feedback) -- as part of the focus related to its line of business, the company donates medical devices and equipment to overseas humanitarian missions, including loaning or donating needed equipment for surgeons to take to developing countries

The Career Directory

Stryker Canada ULC has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.

Highlights for New Grads

Industry	Medical equipment and supplies wholesalers
Full-time employees in Canada	751 to 1,000
Parent company	Stryker Corp.
Parent company head office	Kalamazoo, MI, United States
Major Canadian locations	Burnaby BC, Waterdown ON
Student opportunities	paid internships, co-op opportunities
Training	subsidies for professional accreditation, orientation program, online training, in-house training, mentoring, in-house career planning services, leadership training
Tuition subsidies (related to job)	yes
Typical new grad positions	Customer Service Agent, Distribution Associate, Loaner Coordinator, Sales Coordinator, Buyer, Regulatory Affairs/Quality Assurance Representative, Associate Sales Representative, Marketing Associate, Staff Accountant
Starting salary	$45K 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 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job

Academic fields recruited

Bachelor of Arts
- Business
- Human Resources
- Psychology
- Public Relations / Communications
- Sociology
Bachelor of Commerce / Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Marketing
Bachelor of Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Electrical
- Telecommunications
Bachelor of Science
- Computer Science
- Health Sciences
- Kinesiology
- Occupational Therapy
Master of Business Administration
- Marketing
Master of Science
- Health Sciences
- Kinesiology
- Nursing / Health Administration
- Occupational Therapy

Stryker Canada ULC

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