PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP – Progressive Employers of Canada List

We strongly believe that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) merits inclusion on the 2009 Progressive Employers of Canada list.

Over the past several years, PwC has shown a true commitment to supporting working moms and their families. We have introduced many programs and benefits that directly support working mothers who are employed by the firm.

Below, we detail many of the programs and benefits—whether through formal policy or as informally practised by members of the firm—that foster a supportive work environment at PwC.

Family Leaves
The firm supports parents while on maternity and parental leaves of absence (including adoption).
Family leaves of absence relate to:
• mothers taking leave following the birth of a child;
• mothers or fathers taking leave to adopt a child; and
• fathers taking leave following the birth of a child.
During family leaves of absence, PwC provides continuation of insured benefits and retirement programs.

In addition, through the Periodic Absence Policy, adoptive parents and fathers are eligible to take an additional one week of paid leave within the first year of the birth or adoption of a child. If this additional paid week for parental or adoption leave is combined with other paid time off (of up to three weeks of paid time off) available through the Periodic Absence Policy, staff have the potential to take up to one month of paid time off to be with their new child.

Maternity Leave Top-up
The firm tops up the Employment Insurance maternity leave benefits for a maximum of 17 weeks to a level equal to 100% of the base salary less EI/QPIP benefits paid. This provides working mothers with an added source of income and financial security.

Adoption Assistance
In recognition of the additional cost associated with adopting a child, PwC reimburses certain expenses associated with adoption up to $10,000 per child. This benefit is paid regardless of whether individuals take a formal leave of absence.

Flexible Work Arrangements
PwC is committed to helping individuals achieve their professional and personal goals. Founded on respect for individuals, flexible work arrangements help us foster both creativity and effectiveness while working to achieving work/life flexibility. The firm supports non-traditional ways of working, where practical. Types of flexible working arrangements available include the following.

Flexi-time – This refers to flexible work hours in which there is some choice in the pattern of daily work hours, generally staggering the start and end times of the workday while still working a regular length workday and incorporating core business hours of 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Reduced Hours – A reduced hour arrangement is less than the full-time work equivalent (37.5 hours per week).

PwC Off-site – This work arrangement is designed for staff who work at home on a regular basis for fewer than three days of their workweek.

PwC@Home – This work arrangement is designed for staff working at least three days per week at home or more. For individuals who work from home, the firm reimburses the following.
• installation of a business telephone line;
• monthly telephone service for a business telephone line;
• long-distance business phone calls from a home office;
• Purolator and postal charges for work-related items; and
• travel to a PwC office and client premises.
Job-sharing – This is a work arrangement that allows two individuals to jointly fulfill the responsibilities of one full-time position.

Flexible Work Arrangement Toolkits
The firm provides Flexible Work Arrangement toolkits that offer guidance and support to staff who are considering a flexible work arrangement, and to the managers who have staff and teams either requesting, or currently on, flexible work arrangements.

Briefcase Moms
In 2007, PwC launched Briefcase Moms, a program that aims to bring mothers together to address the practical and emotional issues of being a working parent, and allows them to share their experiences on how to achieve work/life flexibility. Sessions were hosted by a facilitator, and senior PwC women shared their personal success stories, both as professionals and as parents. Women in several offices across the country have participated in the program.

New Parents Information Seminar
Acting on input received during the Briefcase Moms program as well as related requests, the New Parents Information lunch-and-learn was created and piloted in our Vancouver office, and was made available across the country in 2008. It gives practical advice to birth mothers and fathers and adoptive parents when they are preparing to take a family leave, as well as information on firm benefits and resources available to new parents. Topics covered include preparing for leave; things to know while on leave; and information on PwC’s ongoing support such as benefits, resources and flexible work arrangements.

Briefcase Parents
Building on the success of Briefcase Moms, several offices have held Briefcase Parents sessions, helping dads also achieve success in both their personal and professional lives. In some offices, women who have participated in the formal Briefcase Moms program have shared their learnings with all staff, including singles, helping to foster an open dialogue around work/life flexibility and its associated challenges.

Child Care
To help improve staff’s ability to maintain work/life flexibility and better manage the needs of their dependents and their work requirements, the firm offers a Backup Child Care and Backup Family Care Benefit.
• The Backup Child Care Benefit aims to alleviate the stress and financial impact associated with Backup Child Care when emergencies arise with a regular child care provider.
• The Backup Family Care Benefit is designed to address staff needs if their regular care arrangements are disrupted or emergency care is required for other eligible family members (e.g., a parent or grandparent) who do not qualify for the Backup Child Care Benefit.
The firm also provides access to Kids & Co. daycare located in many cities nationally. This organization provides full-time, part-time and emergency backup child care.

Work/Life Flexibility
The firm has numerous programs in place to support working mothers and help them achieve a healthy work/life balance, including the following:
• access to third party counselling and support services;
• a fitness benefit for all staff; and
• Briefcase Moms, as previously discussed.

Family Support Services
Through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, the firm provides a Family Support Service. Professionals help staff cope with stress, guilt and the sense of being overwhelmed that are often associated with caregiving responsibilities. Specialists provide one-on-one telephone consultation on assessing, identifying and locating caregiving services; adoption and multiple-birth services; schools; educational services; and special needs programs. Depending on the individual situation, they may also provide targeted resource packages on such things as planning a family, maternity/parental leaves, building strong blended families, etc.

Access to an Employee Assistance Program
In addition to the EAP services specified above, the firm provides all staff with access to an EAP, which is a voluntary, confidential service providing support on a broad range of issues that may affect one’s work and personal life. Services include:
• marital and family problems;
• anxiety;
• domestic violence;
• interpersonal relationships;
• grief;
• depression;
• drugs and alcohol;
• effective communication;
• legal consultation, e.g., marital separation issues, real estate issues;
• financial consultation, e.g., loss of income, debt consolidation;
• NurseLine, i.e., personalized health information by registered nurses; and
• HomeCare Access, i.e., immediate access to a full range of home care services.

The EAP Resource and Referral service also provides articles, information packages and links to resources relating to a wide range of parenting topics, including:
• preparing for a new baby/parenting;
• adoption;
• single parenting;
• impact of divorce/separation on children;
• sibling relationships;
• education from kindergarten to high school;
• choosing a college/university; and
• advocacy and special needs.
Additional Support
Life Event Checklists

The firm provides checklists relating to various life events. The checklists are designed to help staff quickly and easily understand the resources and programs available to them through the firm and actions they should consider undertaking (e.g., adding a new child to their benefit coverage).
www.pwc.com/ca