We believe the health and well-being of our employees is a priority, which is why we invest significant effort in developing and maintaining leading employee benefits programs. We believe offering a high degree of relevant and flexible choices is the key to attracting and retaining the best people and we work hard to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to offering competitive salary and incentive opportunities.
A Diverse Workforce
In 2007, we employed more than 1,200 people, and of these, approximately 900 are unionized. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are the two unions with whom we negotiated collective agreements. The IBEW agreement covers our utility workers, who include the linemen, construction and maintenance employees responsible for building new electricity infrastructure, and maintaining our generation assets. The CUPE agreement covers our clerical and administrative personnel, also referred to as "inside workers". Every division of ENMAX employs unionized workers, with the exception of ENMAX Envision, our fiber-optic business network division.
We are pleased with the quality of relationships that have been cultivated with both unions. We demonstrate a proactive approach to renegotiating of contracts and have instituted several innovative programs, which include progressive personal performance incentives. Our company also regularly reviews salary surveys and obtains updates on market-based pay levels to ensure our remuneration levels remain competitive.
Attractive Benefits
Both full and part-time employees of ENMAX are eligible to participate in our flexible benefits programs, which offer a choice of health, dental, pension plan and other programs designed to enhance the quality of life for employees.
We also offer a generous vacation entitlement program, which rewards workers for previous work experience from the age of 20 onwards, regardless of whether that experience was with another employer. For example, a worker with 10 years of experience is entitled to four weeks annual holidays, in addition to 10 flexible days off and an extended Christmas holiday shutdown period.
Recognizing the challenge of finding affordable and accessible childcare services in Calgary's competitive market, in 2007 ENMAX created our own onsite daycare centre for
our employees' children, to help meet their needs for greater flexibility and work/life balance. We also provide our employees with free 24-hour access to the fitness facility at our head office location, along with the services of a professional fitness consultant.
As a result of these, and a number of other initiatives, we enjoy a voluntary turnover rate that is less than 10% annually, considered low for the industry according to the Canadian Electricity Association.