Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025), Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers (2024) 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 (2024) 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
Recruits at these schools
- Brock University
- Humber College
- McMaster University
- Mohawk College
- University of Guelph
- University of Toronto
- University of Waterloo
- Western University
- Wilfrid Laurier University