As I began my journey towards obtaining my Chartered Accountant designation I anticipated hard work and long hours in order to progress in my professional career. I was thrilled to learn about the reward programs that PwC has implemented to recognize staff members’ hard work and to help promote work/life balance. The four reward programs that I describe below contribute to making PwC an employer of choice.
1. Acclaim Points: The “Acclaim” program was implemented at PwC a few years ago and is designed to reward employees for their hard work throughout the year. The premise of the program is that when someone exhibits the PwC experience behaviours (for example, “investing in relationships”) they can be recognized through acclaim points. Basically, each employee has a number of points that they can give out throughout the year to anyone they believe has done a great job. The points you receive can then be redeemed for a wide range of products such as gift cards, electronics or travel experiences. I recently cashed in my points and after careful deliberation settled on gift cards to Holt Renfrew, The Keg and movie tickets!
2. Spotlight: The spotlight award is a cash reward given to employees who have exceeded expectations. Anyone is able to submit a nomination and staff can be nominated for a wide variety of reasons. The Spotlight awards are given out periodically throughout the year and help remind employees that their hard work is appreciated. Awards range from $1000 to $2000 for Associates. In the Calgary office over 25 people have been recognized with this award in the first six months of the year.
3. CEO Awards: These awards are one of the top awards a PwC employee can receive and truly recognizes individuals who are integral in driving PwC’s success. It is also a cash-based reward ranging from $10,000 for individuals and $25,000 for teams. The CEO award can be given for a variety of reasons. In fact, a couple of years ago the team that implemented the Acclaim Points program discussed above won a Regional CEO award to recognize their efforts!
4. Fabulous Fridays: This is one of my favourite programs at PwC! This initiative is specific to the Calgary office and was created to help provide benefits to the Calgary staff consistent with other local employers. Within the Oil and Gas industry it is not uncommon to see companies giving employees time off on Fridays during the summer months. As a result, PwC Calgary has implemented “Fabulous Fridays” where each staff member is given an extra 5 Fridays off in the summer to enjoy time with family and friends. The office held a contest to encourage everyone to share what they would do with their extra time off and prizes were awarded to the winners.
Although pursuing your CA can be an intimidating path, PwC provides its employees with great benefit programs and means of recognizing each other for day to day efforts. PwC provides programs to encourage flexibility and work/life balance which are important considerations when you are deciding which employer is right for you. If you have any questions about the programs I have discussed above, feel free to leave a comment and ask away!
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