Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025), Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers (2025) and BC's Top Employers (2025):
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 14, 2024)
Here are some of the reasons why Simon Fraser University was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025), Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers (2025) and BC's Top Employers (2025):
- Simon Fraser University employees can confidently plan for the future through the security of defined benefit pension plan and remain enrolled in the university's health benefits plan after they retire, with 50 per cent premiums and no age limit
- Simon Fraser University employees work in one of the country's most unique campuses atop Burnaby Mountain, with free access to extensive fitness facilities that include a swimming pool, racquetball courts, indoor soccer, a climbing wall, women-only hours, personal fitness consultations and a range of instructor-led classes such as pilates, yoga, Zumba, and spin
- Simon Fraser University provides generous maternity and parental leave top-up payments for employees who are new mothers, fathers or adoptive parents (to 100 per cent of salary for 35 weeks) -- and employees can apply to extend their leave into an unpaid leave of absence
Simon Fraser University employees, students and volunteers participate in the annual Terry Fox Run in support of cancer research
(Photo credit:
Dale Northey)
Simon Fraser University employees, students and volunteers participate in the annual Terry Fox Run in support of cancer research
(Photo credit:
Dale Northey)
Simon Fraser University employees, students and volunteers participate in the annual Terry Fox Run in support of cancer research
(Photo credit:
Dale Northey)
Employer Background
| Industry | Post secondary schools, university |
| Established in Canada | 1965 |
| Major Canadian locations | Burnaby BC, Vancouver BC, Surrey BC |
| Full-time employees in Canada | 3,572 |
| Part-time employees in Canada | 4,376 |
| Workforce engaged on a contract basis | 0.40% |
| Average age of employees in Canada | 39 years |
| Longest serving employee | 51 years |
Work Environment Rating: A+
| Flexible work options | hybrid work option, flexible work hours, 35-hour work week (with full pay), telecommuting, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), earned days off program, earned days off program lets employees work 0.8 extra hours each day and receive 2 days off each month |
| Commuter amenities | walk to public transit, transit subsidies, online carpool sign-up, electric vehicle charging stations, secure/sheltered bicycle parking, nearby bike sharing station |
| Onsite workplace features | telecommuter workstations, sit-stand workstations, religious observance room, self-serve lunchroom, outdoor patio, student union building features lounges, a community kitchen, online gaming lounge and live performance stage, and a private wellness room |
| Employee lounge amenities | comfortable seating, music, television |
| Onsite cafeteria | healthy menus, special diet menus |
| Other food options at main location | several cafeterias, food courts, restaurants and food vendors across campus, pub and restaurant, fully operational dining room and conference centre, visiting food trucks |
| Onsite fitness facility | shared-use facility, free membership, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, instructor-led classes (pilates, yoga, Zumba, spin), elliptical trainers, rowing machines, weights, basketball court, shower facilities, swimming pool, racquetball courts, indoor soccer court, badminton courts, climbing wall, women-only hours, free fitness consultations |
Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B+
| Past social events | annual staff achievement award dinner, summer employee appreciation barbecue |
| Cultural aspects | business-casual dress daily, casual dress (e.g. jeans) daily, music while working, can bring pets to work when needed, organized social activities for retirees |
| Employee communications | intranet site, company newsletter |
Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: A
| Financial benefits note | Simon Fraser University has multiple employee groups, financial benefits may vary by position |
| Outside salary surveys | participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months |
| Employee salary reviews | individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months |
| Long-term savings | defined-benefit (DB) pension |
| Long-term planning | phased-in retirement work options |
| Additional financial benefits | discounted home insurance, academic tuition coverage available to current employees and retirees |
Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: A+
| Health plan note | Simon Fraser University has multiple employee groups, health plans may vary by position |
| Health plan premium | as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 100% of the premiums |
| Minimum hours worked for coverage | 14 hours per week |
| Waiting period for coverage | 30 days |
| Family coverage option | yes |
| Retiree coverage with no age limit | yes |
| Dental coverage | routine, restorative, orthodontics |
| Eyecare | $500 every 2 years |
| Paid sick days | employees receive 5 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, podiatrist, chiropractor, alternative coverage (e.g. acupuncture, naturopathy) |
| Mental health practitioner benefit | up to $2,500 each year |
| Additional health plan information | the university has separate health plans for its faculty, administrative staff and professionals, and unionized employees |
| Additional health and wellness initiatives | Organizational Health Department (manages illness, sick leave, and wellness policies across the university and works with employees and managers to help employees returning to work) |
| Family-friendly benefits note | Simon Fraser University has multiple employee groups, family-friendly policies may vary by position |
| Maternity top-up (mothers) | up to 100% of salary for 35 weeks |
| Parental top-up (fathers) | up to 100% of salary for 35 weeks |
| Adoption top-up | up to 100% of salary for 35 weeks |
| Additional family-friendly benefits | extended parental leave to unpaid leave, child care onsite, compassionate top-up to 100% of salary for 1 week |
| Additional family-friendly information | onsite (and off-campus) childcare centres, offers spring break and summer camp programs for school-aged kids, participates in the annual Take Our Kids to Work Day for Grade 9 students |
Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: A+
| Vacation note | Simon Fraser University 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 8 years of employment |
| Maximum vacation allowance | employees move to a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation over their career |
| Paid holiday shutdown | during the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 3 days off |
| Unpaid leave maximum | 12 months |
| Additional time-off information | reading week break (100 per cent of salary for one week) |
Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: B
| Employee performance reviews | employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 months |
| Managers receive performance review training | yes |
| Exit interview | exit interview option is available for departing employees |
| Performance recognition | long-service awards, Staff Achievement Awards (for administrative, professional, clerical, technical and trades employees) |
| In-house survey period | in-house surveys are conducted every 24 months |
Training & Skills Development Rating: A+
| In-house training initiatives | in-house training, online training, leadership development programs, subsidies for professional accreditation, mentoring to transfer retirees' skills |
| Related tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year |
| Unrelated tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 100% of tuition 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 |
| Total number of charities supported last year | approximately 2 charitable and community organizations were supported last year |
| Some of the community organizations supported | United Way, Terry Fox Foundation |
| Community highlight | SFU supports the annual United Way campaign to raise funds for local agencies and programs that provide support to children and seniors living in poverty, as well as programs to help prevent bullying among children -- employees also participate in the annual Terry Fox Run with all money raised directed to cancer research. |