Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2023):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 17, 2022)
Here are some of the reasons why Yukon, Government of was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2023):
- Government of Yukon helps employees confidently plan for life after work with retirement assistance planning services, phased-in work options when nearing retirement along with contributions to a defined benefit pension plan
- Varying by position and location, Government of Yukon employees may receive a recruitment (referral) bonus and retention allowances for some positions, community allowance for living in remote communities, annual travel subsidies (after two years of employment) and rotational schedules for nursing personnel in remote locations
- Government of Yukon encourages ongoing employee development with tuition subsidies for courses both related and indirectly related to an employee's current role (to $5,000 per year) -- and supports a new online learning platform that features a variety of mobile-friendly course offerings

Mary Tiessen, an American Sign Language interpreter for the Public Service Commission at the Government of Yukon
(Photo credit:
Alistair Maitland)
Employer Background
Industry | Territorial government |
Established in Canada | 1898 |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Whitehorse YT, Dawson City YT, Watson Lake YT, Haines Junction YT |
Full-time employees in Canada | 5,156 |
Part-time employees in Canada | 563 |
Workforce engaged on a contract basis | 1.9% |
Average age of employees in Canada | 43.9 years |
Longest serving employee | 43 years |
Work Environment Rating: B
Hybrid work | home office allowance, office equipment loan program, introduced an updated remote work policy to guide long-term remote work requests |
Flexible work options | flexible work hours, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, telecommuting |
Commuter amenities | walk to public transit, online carpool sign-up, free parking, electric vehicle charging stations |
Onsite workplace features | head office is home to the Yukon Legislative Assembly and is located in the heart of Whitehorse, offering views of the adjacent Yukon River and surrounding mountains, waterfront trolley stops outside the building (summertime only), original Canadian and Yukon artists' work on the walls of the main foyer, sit-stand workstations, outdoor patio |
Employee lounge amenities | comfortable seating, fireplace, board games, table tennis, lounge amenities vary across the organization's work areas |
Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B
Employee social committee name | subsidized departmental social committees |
Past social events | hosts numerous virtual celebrations, including the annual employee long service awards, a virtual HR symposium (for all HR personnel), and a number of formal and informal online events |
Cultural aspects | dress-for-your-day policy, casual dress Fridays, music while working, employee sports teams |
Employee communications | intranet site, traditional/email suggestion box |
Other in-house communications | departmental intranets, newsletters and blogs |
Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: A
Financial benefits note | Government of Yukon has multiple employee groups, financial benefits may vary by position |
Outside salary surveys | participates in outside salary surveys every 6 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, life & disability insurance |
Additional financial benefits | discounts for home computer software and hardware purchases, recruitment (referral) bonuses and retention allowances for some positions, community allowance for employees living in remote communities (amounts range with distance from Whitehorse), annual travel subsidy for eligible employees (after 2 years of employment) |
Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: A+
Health plan note | Government of Yukon has multiple employee groups, health plans may vary by position |
Health plan premium | as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 85% of the premiums |
Flexible coverage | health plan is flexible with adjustable premiums and coverage levels |
Waiting period for coverage | 90 days |
Family coverage option | yes |
Retiree coverage with no age limit | yes |
Dental coverage | routine, restorative, orthodontics |
Eyecare | $300 every 2 years |
Paid sick days | employees receive 15 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, nutrition planning, podiatrist, osteopathy, chiropractor, alternative coverage (e.g. acupuncture, naturopathy), virtual healthcare services |
Mental health practitioner benefit | up to $1,200 each year |
Additional health plan information | premiums vary by employee group (75% to 85% to 100%) |
Additional health and wellness initiatives | virtual LifeSpeak wellness platform features online videos, action plans and interactive presentations with world-class experts, and online coaching services to help employees (and family members) work towards personal and professional goals |
Family-friendly benefits note | Government of Yukon has multiple employee groups, family-friendly policies may vary by position |
Maternity top-up (mothers) | up to 93% of salary for 15 weeks |
Parental top-up (mothers) | up to 93% of salary for 15 weeks |
Parental top-up (fathers) | up to 93% of salary for 15 weeks |
Adoption top-up | up to 93% of salary for 15 weeks |
Additional family-friendly information | job-sharing (for nursing personnel in remote locations) |
Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: A+
Vacation note | Government of Yukon has multiple employee groups, vacation policies may vary by position |
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 4 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
Vacation jump | vacation increases after 3 years of employment |
Maximum vacation allowance | employees move to a maximum of 8 weeks of vacation over their career |
Personal paid days off | employees can schedule 6 personal days off each year, as needed |
Unpaid leave maximum | 24 months |
Self-funded/deferred salary leave maximum | 12 months |
Additional time-off information | management (approximately 9% of workforce) receive 6 weeks of starting vacation allowance |
Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: B
Employee performance reviews | employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 months |
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 |
Exit interview | exit interview option is available for departing employees |
Performance recognition | online recognition platform, individual performance bonuses, peer-to-peer recognition awards, long-service awards, Premier’s Award of Excellence and Innovation (employee nominated) and the Aboriginal Employees’ Award of Honour (selected by independent committees) |
Training & Skills Development Rating: B+
Career planning | in-house career planning services |
In-house training initiatives | apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, mentoring, in-house training, online training, paid internships, subsidies for professional accreditation, mentoring to transfer retirees' skills |
Related tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 35% of tuition per year |
Annual tuition maximum | employer pays up to $5,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year |
Unrelated tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 35% of tuition per year for courses unrelated to current position |
Unrelated tuition maximum | employer pays up to $5,000 in tuition subsidies per year for courses unrelated to current position |
Community Involvement Rating: B+
Scope of charitable involvement | local |
Employee charitable involvement | employees receive paid time off to volunteer |
Some of the community organizations supported | United Way of Yukon (kicks off its annual fall fundraising campaign with a breakfast fundraiser), Bare Essentials (women's shelter program), Whitehorse 20-Minute Makeover (employees receive 2.5 hours to join the city-wide garbage cleanup and graffiti removal event) |
Community highlight | Government of Yukon employees are actively involved in raising money for the annual United Way campaign. The United Way of Yukon directs the majority of its funding to provide assistance to children, youth and families, persons living with disabilities, alcohol and drug abuse initiatives, and reducing the impacts of poverty. |