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 University of New Brunswick / UNB was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) and Atlantic Canada's Top Employers (2025):
- UNB helps employees every step of the way in starting a family, from a fertility support benefit, maternity and parental leave top-ups, the ability to extend their leave into an unpaid leave of absence, and the option to phase-in their return to work (along with on-site childcare services when they are ready to come back to work)
- UNB encourages employees to keep fit and healthy with subsidized memberships to a fully equipped on-site fitness centre that also features an indoor track, dance studio, climbing wall, instructor-led classes, swimming pool, skating arena, squash courts, and much more
- UNB helps employees plan securely for the future with retirement planning assistance and contributions to a shared-risk pension plan -- and retirees can also stay connected through a dedicated Retired Employees Association, which assists members with health benefits and related concerns, and provides a collective voice to the university
Employees celebrate the UNB community during the university's annual Red and Black Day
(Photo credit:
Cameron Fitch)
Employees celebrate the UNB community during the university's annual Red and Black Day
(Photo credit:
Cameron Fitch)
Employees celebrate the UNB community during the university's annual Red and Black Day
(Photo credit:
Cameron Fitch)
Employer Background
| Industry | Post secondary schools, university |
| Established in Canada | 1785 |
| Major Canadian locations | Fredericton NB, Saint John NB |
| Full-time employees in Canada | 1,895 |
| Part-time employees in Canada | 480 |
| Workforce engaged on a contract basis | 41% |
| Average age of employees in Canada | 43 years |
| Longest serving employee | 52 years |
Work Environment Rating: A+
| Flexible work options | hybrid work option, flexible work hours, telecommuting, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), reduced summer hours |
| Commuter amenities | walk to public transit, free parking, subsidized parking, electric vehicle charging stations, secure/sheltered bicycle parking |
| Onsite workplace features | the university's main Fredericton campus features historic buildings such as Sir Howard Douglas Hall (dating back to 1785), telecommuter workstations, sit-stand workstations, religious observance room, outdoor patio, outdoor barbecue, discounts at local restaurants |
| Employee lounge amenities | comfortable seating, fireplace, music, television, gathering areas with scenic views, skylights, indoor tropical gardens, lovely outside areas with extensive views overlooking the Saint John River and historical downtown Fredericton |
| Onsite cafeteria | healthy menus, special diet menus, subsidized meals, take-home meals |
| Other food options at main location | smaller market-style cafeterias, vending machines located throughout campus, and the campus Cellar Pub for students and employees |
| Onsite fitness facility | shared-use facility, subsidized membership, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, instructor-led classes (yoga, pilates, step, spin, Group Rx RIP, Zumba, HIIT, boot camps, muscle mix, silver series for older adults, cardio sculpt), elliptical trainers, rowing machines, weights, basketball court, shower facilities, indoor track, TRX facilities, dance studio, climbing wall, swimming pool with diving tank, weight rooms, semi-private programs, performance lab, fitness assessments, personal trainers, ice arena and squash courts |
Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B
| Past social events | a campus-wide holiday party and departmental parties during the Christmas season, retirement celebrations, art shows at the UNB Art Centre, President’s Award Ceremony for faculty and staff, and the annual Homecoming and Red+Black Day campus celebrations |
| Cultural aspects | business-casual dress daily, dress-for-your-day policy, casual dress Fridays, music while working, employee sports teams, organized social activities for retirees |
| Employee communications | intranet site, company newsletter, internal social media |
| Other in-house communications | departmental newsletters |
Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: A
| Financial benefits note | UNB 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-contribution (DC) pension |
| Long-term planning | retirement planning assistance, phased-in retirement work options |
| Signing bonuses | available for some positions |
| Additional financial benefits | corporate discount program (e.g. retail, services, travel, etc.), new employee pension plans are "shared risk" plans for all new support employees and faculty members, discounted parking passes, gym memberships, corporate discount programs for a range of other products and services, from groceries to computer purchases and cellphone plan |
Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: A
| Health plan note | UNB has multiple employee groups, health plans may vary by position |
| Health plan premium | as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 50% of the premiums |
| Minimum hours worked for coverage | 13 hours per week |
| Waiting period for coverage | 180 days |
| Family coverage option | yes |
| Retiree coverage with no age limit | yes |
| Dental coverage | routine, restorative |
| Eyecare | $325 every 2 years |
| Paid sick days | employees receive 3 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, medical equipment and supplies, massage therapy, nutrition planning, podiatrist, osteopathy, chiropractor, alternative coverage (e.g. acupuncture, naturopathy), virtual healthcare services |
| Additional health plan information | no maximum for mental health practitioner benefit, retiree coverage available (annual fees are fully paid by individual retirees) |
| Additional health and wellness initiatives | departmental wellness initiatives |
| Family-friendly benefits note | UNB has multiple employee groups, family-friendly policies may vary by position |
| Maternity top-up (mothers) | up to 95% of salary for 17 weeks |
| Parental top-up (mothers) | up to 95% of salary for 35 weeks |
| Parental top-up (fathers) | up to 95% of salary for 37 weeks |
| Adoption top-up | up to 95% of salary for 37 weeks |
| Additional family-friendly benefits | extended parental leave to unpaid leave, phased-in return to work for new parents, child care onsite |
| Additional family-friendly information | maternity and parental leave top-up duration vary by employee group |
Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: B
| Vacation note | UNB 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 8 years of employment |
| Maximum vacation allowance | employees move to a maximum of 5 weeks of vacation over their career |
| Paid holiday shutdown | during the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 2 days off |
| Unpaid leave of absence option | yes |
| Additional time-off information | faculty receive 4.4 weeks of starting vacation |
Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: A
| Employee performance reviews | employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months |
| Managers receive performance review training | yes |
| 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 | peer-to-peer recognition awards, dedicated awards programs reflecting the diversity of professional roles, including teaching, scholarship, service and research awards |
Training & Skills Development Rating: A+
| In-house training initiatives | online training, leadership development programs, 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 |
| Education leave | educational leaves of absence are available |
| Financial bonuses for course completions | yes |
Community Involvement Rating: B+
| Scope of charitable involvement | local, national |
| Employee charitable involvement | employees are involved in selection of charities |
| Some of the community organizations supported | United Way of Central New Brunswick, Canadian Blood Services, Canadian Cancer Society, Promise Partnership (in-house initiative focused on poverty reduction in Saint John) |
| Community highlight | UNB encourages employees to support the United Way through payroll deductions and encourages employees (and students) to suggest and organize their own initiatives |