News article, written for the Department of National Defence Maple Leaf in 2017.
The Department of National Defence (DND) was rated number 13 on a list of the top 25 best employers in Canada, according to job search engine giant Indeed.
The rankings were determined from over 600 000 employee reviews from across Canada, in which employees rated their workplaces on work-life balance, salary and benefits, job security and advancement, management, and culture. DND and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) scored an impressive overall rating of 4.3 on Indeed’s five-point scale.
The positive civilian-military relationship that is particular to working at DND was a focus for many employees, including a senior costing analyst who noted that DND is a “fantastic place to be employed [and] the synergy between military and civilian talent is brilliantly managed.” The reviewer went on to say that they have “grown as a professional significantly, through well-thought out and planned talent management and support systems.”
The endless career possibilities offered at Defence was also a highlight for both civilians and military members, with employees emphasizing the “unlimited potential for personal and professional growth,” and the many interesting career opportunities available.
According to Indeed, the companies that made their list “offer an exemplary employee experience,” with particular attention paid to workplace culture, a strong work-life balance, and good pay and benefits.
The Defence Team leadership is committed to building and sustaining a healthy, respectful, and safe workplace. This was exemplified in the DND reviews, with many employees applauding the organization’s open communication and sense of community.
A junior IT support technician noted that “management [is] open for communication, and makes learning easy,” while a divisional human resources advisor says that DND has a “work hard, play hard environment with a can-do attitude; [a] great learning environment with emphasis on working as a team.”
“Increasingly we see that the modern workforce optimizes for happiness,” said Jodi Kasten, Managing Director at Indeed. “Companies that are willing to evolve and invest in their workforce will continue to attract and retain top talent.”
Canada’s new Defence Policy: Strong, Secure, Engaged outlines the commitment to support the organization’s military members, their families, and civilian employees. A more comprehensive approach, known as the Total Health and Wellness Strategy, has been established to enable leaders to improve the health and well-being of the Defence Team.
DND is the only Canadian government department on Indeed’s Top 25. The financial sector dominates the list, featuring in nine spots. Other top-ranked employers include General Motors, TELUS Communications, WestJet Airlines, and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
Visit our website to find out more about civilian jobs at the Department of National Defence.