Meet the companies who made the 2008 list and discover the secret to happy employees.

1.  SwiftRadius Inc
IT consulting
Fredericton, N.B.; Saint John, N.B.; Charlottetown, P.E.I.
28 employees

At consulting firm SwiftRadius people come first. Employees receive annual career planning with a mid-year review to ensure that they’re meeting their professional goals. The company also offers a health and wellness program that covers a variety of gym and golf memberships. In addition SwiftRadius offers 3% RRSP match-up of an employee’s annual salary, and a bonus pool based on a percentage of profits over target.

2.  Premiere Executive Suites
Short- and long-term accommodations
Halifax, N.S.; Sydney, N.S., & Moncton, N.B.
34 employees

Founded in 1999, Premiere Executive Suites offers fully furnished accommodations for short and long visits. The company hosts an annual employee awards banquet that recognizes philanthropy and years of service. On Friday afternoons staff members gather to celebrate weekly accomplishments. Company-sponsored summer barbeques offer a relaxing atmosphere to socialize. Perhaps the best perk is the 50% employee discount at all locations in Canada. The company also promotes environmentally friendly practices and donates old furniture to charities.

3.  Farm Credit Canada
Agriculture financing
Moncton, N.B.
92 employees

Farm Credit Union is a Canada–wide company that has created an internal culture where its employees are highly engaged and respected. The company offers a wide array of employee perks, including extended health and long-term disability coverage, profit-sharing, parental-leave benefit top-up, and professional development opportunities. Because FCC offers arrangements for a better work/life balance, employees have the ability to buy or sell vacation time.

4.  Cambridge Suites Hotel
Hospitality services
Sydney, N.S.
80 employees

With twenty years of service the Cambridge Suites in Sydney—a subsidiary of Centennial Hotels--has established itself as one of the region’s most respected hotels. Known for its knowledgeable and customer-focused staff, the privately owned company promotes a healthy workplace. Its attractive career-development options, competitive wages, flexible hours, benefits, incentives programs, and RRSP matching, keeps employee turnover to a minimum. Meanwhile, monthly employee council meetings ensure optimum job quality and guest services.

5.  Bruce Chevrolet Pontiac Buick GMC
Automotive services
Middleton, N.S.
42 employees

With only 42 employees, Bruce Chevrolet Pontiac Buick GMC is a small family-owned-and-operated automotive dealership headquartered in Middleton, N.S., that builds life-long relationships with its employees. Celebrating its 60th year of operations, the company encourages “cross-training”; most employees have held more than two positions. The company matches RRSP contributions, provides extended health and long-term disability coverage, offers profit-sharing, and awards salary bonuses.

6.  Dillon Consulting
Engineering
Fredericton, N.B, Halifax N.S., Sydney, N.S.
107 employees

Dillon Consulting operates in 16 locations in Canada and abroad. It offers many career-development programs, including one in leadership and communication professional development that gives employees access to online business courses designed to enhance their skills. All full-time staff members have an option to own company shares.  

7.  RBC Atlantic Canada
Financial services
Halifax, N.S.
3,000 employees

RBC’s corporate environmental policy encourages employees to find ways to reduce the use of such resources as paper and energy and seek business opportunities to promote environmental sustainability. Staff can choose from various retirement plans, many of which RBC will match employee contributions. As a result, more than 80% of employees are RBC shareholders. Other benefits include job sharing, compressed workweeks, and the option of working from home.

8.  Corporate Research Associates Inc.
Marketing research and consulting services
Halifax, N.S.
32 employees

Corporate Research Associates puts a great deal of energy into the ongoing development and well-being of its employees. There are “lunch and learns” offered on specialized techniques, led by specialists within the company and outside experts. The company also offers flexible summer-hour scheduling and half-days to employees before long weekends. Employees can receive an annual performance bonuses based on job performance, as well as special awards based on employees’ contributions to their divisions.

9.  Bayview Credit Union Ltd.
Financial services
Saint John, N.B.
106 employees

Owed co-operatively by its members, Bayview is New Brunswick’s largest credit union with seven branches in Saint John, Hampton, Kennebecasis Valley, and Sussex. Internal career advancement is encouraged, and every position is posted within the organization. Staff receive preferred loan rates, certain free banking-related services, annual performance incentives, computer loans, and paid parking.

10.  OMISTA Credit Union
Full-service financial services
Moncton, N.B.
50 employees

OMISTA motivates its employees with ongoing performance reviews, day-to-day coaching sessions, and career-development opportunities. Employees are given access to a Credit Union-specific online learning system that features education courses on various financial service topics and general business studies as well as industry web links and discussion groups. Employees also receive 12 paid sick days each year, flexible work arrangements, and a $300 wellness benefit.

11.  A&H GMAC Real Estate
Real estate
Dartmouth, N.S.
70 employees

In the five years since it opened, A&H GMAC Real Estate has become one of the region’s leading real estate companies. Its secret: extensive professional development programs for its more than 70 agents and employees.  The company believes the key to providing better services to clients is to provide training and support to the agents. A&H GMAC Real Estate also encourages its staff to get involved in their communities. The company sponsors numerous local sports teams and organizations, including Homebridge Youth Society, Nova Scotia Lab Rescue, and the Canadian Cancer Society.

12.  Newfoundland and Labrador Credit Union
Financial services
St. John’s, N.L.
123 employees

Newfoundland and Labrador Credit Union (NLCU) know their team is their biggest asset. Over half of open positions are filled internally, and NLCU promotes a culture of continuous learning.  The cost of career-development training is covered to help employees enhance their skills and prepare for new job opportunities. The organization offers mentoring, cross-training, and job shadowing, and has regular management meetings with employees that focus on both personal and professional development.

13.  Fairmont Hotels and Resorts
Hospitality services
Saint Andrews by the Sea, N.B.
294 employees

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts is a work environment where movement, both internally and externally, is encouraged. An internal job-posting program is used to fill vacant positions, offering employees opportunities for training, career development, and advancement. The largest luxury hotel company in North America, Fairmont gives employees a reduced rate on accommodations after three months of service, along with discounts of up to 50% on amenities.

14.  Mariner Partners Inc.
IT consulting services
Saint John, N.B.
80 employees

Mariner Partners provides career-development planning annually for all employees with special emphasis on developing leadership in innovation and new business development. The company also offers flexible work arrangements such as telecommuting and working alternate days or weeks. Employees are eligible for a salary bonus of up to 10% based equally on personal performance such as organizational skills, dependability and leadership, and overall company performance. Mariner excels in maintaining open lines of communications with its employees.

15.  Macdonald Chisholm Trask Insurance
Insurance
Kentville, N.S.
136 employees

Founded in the early 1950s, Macdonald Chisholm Trask Insurance has grown to become one of the Atlantic region’s largest and most progressive insurance brokers. It has one of the insurance industry’s best-educated teams; with over 70% of its employees having completed or working toward professional designations. The company provides an extensive strength-based management program. MCT supports community events, supplies bursaries and scholarships to local schools, and has implemented a sustainability program called MCT Green which is helping reduce the company’s carbon footprint.

16.  Cooke Insurance Group
Insurance
Charlottetown, P.E.I
72 employees

Cooke Insurance’s mission is: “treating people with respect makes great things happen.” That’s why the company works hard to balance work and life for its 72 employees. In fact, Cooke has one of the top benefit plans in the industry, with the company covering the costs for the employees health and dental plan. In addition, employees can make suggestions each year about what new products and services should be added to the plan. The company also cost shares with the employees to join a local fitness facility, and matches a portion of their annual salary for RRSPs.

17.  AMIRIX Systems Inc.
Acoustic telemetry technology and equipment
Halifax, N.S.
72 employees

AMIRIX is known for its design and manufacture of underwater acoustic telemetry equipment for the marine biology and fisheries research industry. But it’s also known for how well it treats its employees. Recently the company built a new manufacturing facility designed to protect both employees and the environment from any potentially harmful emissions it might produce. Its Feelin’ Great program partners staff with health professionals to learn about nutrition and wellness. Plus, it offers a defined-contribution pension plan and annual bonuses.

18.  Jacques Whitford
Engineering
Dartmouth, N.S.
594 employees

Jacques Whitford, which is 100% owned by its employees, offers matching employee contributions for both RRSPs and its pension plan. The company also offers its employees opportunities for things such as company-wide profit sharing after two years of employment, and to attend a paid custom leadership-development program at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont.  Since the company’s inception in the early 1970s, its leaders have continued to believe that any business, no matter how large, is an extended family.

19.  Huestis Ritch Barristers and Solicitors
Law
Halifax, N.S.
31 employees

Founded in 1968, Huestis Ritch is a Halifax-based law partnership specializing in litigation, and labour and employment law; it has additional practices in property, estates, and mediation and arbitration. Huestis Ritch emphasizes recruitment and retention. The firm matches RRSP contributions up to 5% and has extended health and long-term disability coverage, company-wide profit sharing, and parental-leave top-up. Benchmarking salaries and other compensation benefits against other leading law firms, Huestis Ritch is committed to maintaining a co-operative and team-oriented work environment.

20.  Assurance Goguen Champlain Insurance Inc.
Insurance
Dieppe, N.B.
51 employees

With roots dating back to 1947, locally-owned Assurance Goguen Champlain Insurance Inc. is a fully diversified insurance brokerage serving the commercial and residential sectors in all three Maritime provinces. Its top-notch services aren’t its only attribute; Goguen attracts and maintains some of the brightest industry talent in the region. Last year alone, it attracted seven new brokers. Most recently the company relocated its head office to a 13,500-square-foot state-of-the-art building specially designed to meet the needs of each employee. Goguen puts a strong premium on incentives through professional development courses, comprehensive bonus programs, and a competitive pension plan.

 Read more about the 2008 Best Places to Work here