The Ranch Ehrlo Society named as one of Saskatchewan's top employers
Recently, Ranch Ehrlo Society was named as one of Saskatchewan's top employers for 2012. Wondering what exactly this meant and how we might have obtained this prestigious award, I took it upon myself to do some reconnaissance work. I found out that employers are evaluated by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers using the same eight criteria as the national competition. These criteria are: 1) physical workplace; 2) work atmosphere & social; 3) health, financial & family benefits; 4) vacation & time off; 5) employee communications; 6) performance management; 7) training & skills development; and 8) community involvement. Additionally, employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.
Ok, I thought to myself. But what does all this mean? So I decided to talk to Jane Powell-Showchuk, director of special projects, who nominated Ranch Ehrlo for this award. From talking to Jane, I found out specific details as to how we fulfilled each of the eight above mentioned criteria. I found it fascinating to see just how much Ranch Ehrlo does for its employees, clients, and communities. I would like to highlight a few of the criteria so you can see why we won the award this year.
Health, financial & family benefits
Ranch Ehrlo Society offers a wide range of benefits to its full-time and part-time employees. These benefits continue to evolve to meet the needs of all employees.
- Premium health and dental benefits - Ranch Ehrlo pays 50% of the premiums
- Employees have short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Employees can take advantage of a pension plan, with options of contributing 3.5%, 4.5%, or 5.5% matched by the Ranch
- 3 paid family days per year for full-time employees
- Maternity Leave Benefit – 80% (55% from EI and an additional 25% top-up from the agency) for 50 weeks
- Paternity Leave Benefit – 80% (55% from EI and an additional 25% top-up from the agency) for 35 weeks
- Health Care Plan for retirees
- Bereavement leave - employees can accumulate up to 4 days with pay per year for full time staff, and up to 2 days with pay per year for part-time staff.
- Health care spending accounts of $200 annually for full-time staff and $100 for part-time staff
- $100 wellness reimbursement for membership or ongoing participation in fitness activities.
Vacation & time off
Ranch Ehrlo offers generous vacation time to its employees. Recently, the vacation leave policy was revised to include additional time off for those employees with the Ranch more than 15 years.
Vacation Leave:
- 1 to 5 years – 3 weeks
- 5 to 10 years – 4 weeks
- 10 to 15 years – 5 weeks
- 15 and over – 6 weeks
- Unpaid leave option
- Rejuvenation program for long-term employees – allows them to diversify their career portfolio and acquire new skills and experience
Training & skills development
Employee development and a culture of continuous learning permeate Ranch Ehrlo. Boundless opportunities exist for employees to engage in training and skills development.
Front-End Group Induction Training.- Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training
- CPR and Standard First Aid Certification
- Trauma Informed Care Training
- Communicable Disease and Universal Health Precautions Training
- Basic Wilderness Emergency Response of Wilderness Emergency First Responder Certification
- Bronze Medallion Certification
- Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association Certification
- Therapeutic Camp Training
- Wilderness Education Association Certification
- Suicide Intervention Training
- Ongoing Staff Training (by program area)
- Costs are offset for staff to attend conferences or seminars
- Costs for Professional Associations are offset for staff to participate in the continuing education of all agency personnel, and to further develop the skills of staff that are of direct benefit to the agency
- All Agency Meetings (twice yearly)
Educational leave and assistance policy
Ranch Ehrlo encourages its employees to pursue their education, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Ranch offers flexibility to employees taking courses as well as financial help.
- To participate in the continuing education of all agency personnel, and to further develop the skills of staff that are of direct benefit to the agency
- Education Leave and note that salary support of up to 80% may be provided for full-time staff on one or two semester education leaves when attending full-time studies to complete their degree.
- Full-time employees can receive up to 100% of tuition and required student fees for one course per semester to a maximum of two classes per academic year.
- Part-time employees can receive up to 50% tuition and required student fees for one course per semester to a maximum of two classes per academic year.
I have to say that after learning about all the reasons Ranch Ehrlo was nominated, I feel far more proud to be an employee of Ranch Ehrlo. Sometimes, when we are all busy working in our own departments, we cannot see the bigger picture of what Ranch Ehrlo does as an agency. Jane did an excellent job compiling together all the information in the nomination process that ultimately led to Ranch Ehrlo being selected as of Saskatchewan’s top employers. Thank you Jane!
I hope this helps to paint a clearer picture for everyone as to why the Ranch Ehrlo Society was nominated and won one of the 2012 Saskatchewan's Top Employer Awards. I also hope it makes everyone involved with Ranch Ehrlo feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment. Further, I hope those not involved with Ranch Ehrlo Society; will now want to become involved!
Stayed tuned for another blog, this time written by Jane Powell, director of special projects, that will feature Ranch Ehrlo’s extensive community involvement, which also cemented it as one of Saskatchewan’s top employers.
