Six years ago, the management team of Edmonton-based Intuit Canada Ltd. said thanks to its employees and immediate family members by taking all 15 people for a weekend at the Jasper Park Lodge.

Early this March, the tradition will continue. But this time, 600 people – employees, spouses, partners and their children – will be treated to an all-expenses-paid weekend of fun.

“It’s one of the really cool things we do,” says Betty Buysen, Intuit’s human-resources manager.

However, it is just one of the many benefits of working at the computer software maker, which is gaining a national reputation as one great place to be.

Photos by Bill Brennan, for Business Edge
Intuit Canada's Robin Ebbers and Carla Wong, above, shoot pool in the company's playroom; workers inside the tech support room (below).

Early this month Intuit was ranked second overall in Report on Business magazine’s third annual list of the top companies to work for in Canada.

“Let’s just say we were dancing in the halls when we heard we had placed second,” says Buysen. “We really feel we have a great story to tell, but not a lot of people know about much about us.”

The rankings were compiled by international consulting company Hewitt Associates, which has been conducting formal rankings worldwide since the mid-1990s.

“What is most important to us is that the ranking is determined mainly on the (confidential) responses of the employees,” says Buysen.

Seventy per cent of the ranking is based on employee answers to survey questions, 25 per cent on human-resources practices, and five per cent rests with a response from the company’s CEO about his or her philosophy on the value of people.



Hewitt invited 1,000 companies (300 employees or more) to take part. Of that group, 161 participated. Hewitt provided surveys to 250 randomly chosen employees at each company.

Why are the rankings important?

Neil Crawford, a partner with Hewitt Associates, says it gives participating companies an edge.

An obvious plus is that companies on the list are rewarded because they are recognized as good employers.

Beyond that, the survey methodology used by Hewitt is designed to connect

with employees who exhibit certain qualities: those workers who want to be part of an organization; those who go beyond their job description; and those who speak positively to the public, friends and colleagues.

Studies prove that companies with this type of employee are likely to be most successful, says Crawford. All participants are debriefed following the survey, and told what they are doing right and wrong in satisfying their employees.

The common denominator, says Crawford, is that participants are willing to undergo rigorous measurement, face the scrutiny and then use those results to move forward.

He says it’s abundantly clear what employees want.

“They want a senior leadership they can respect and trust, one that’s willing to communicate openly and honestly, and shows leadership and expertise,” says Crawford.

“And employees want to understand how they can make a difference in the organization. Understand what its goals are, and how well they are doing.”

As a personal observation, Crawford says that companies which impress him most are the ones that have created an excitement or electricity in the workplace.

Intuit Canada believes it creates a buzz. Its website, for example, crackles with positive vibes. Consider this statement to potential employees: “There are no uptight rules. No suits, no ties. There’s Java on-tap, an amazing fitness facility and people who are actually fun to work with. There’s an awesome salary, stock options, growth and profit sharing, an RRSP matching plan, and extensive health and other benefits.”

Buysen admits the perks are pretty nice, and fit into Intuit’s creative culture. But plenty of companies offer great benefits.

What’s so special about Intuit?

“I hear a couple of key things,” says Buysen. “People like the autonomy they are given here.”

People are given a task and it’s up to them how they get the work done. Staff pick the hours they work. They can take a two-hour lunch, or the afternoon off if they require, says Buysen.

“The second thing I hear a lot about is challenge. We have a lot of great people who want to be taken out of their comfort zones. And they are given that here.”

Buysen notes that as a company of 400 employees in Canada (330 in Edmonton), its voluntary annual turnover rate is a mere 2.2 per cent. For a technology company – Intuit develops personal finance, small business accounting and tax preparation software, including the popular QuickBooks – the percentage is almost unheard of.

Intuit Canada is a subsidiary of Intuit Inc., based in Silicon Valley, but like its employees the Canadian company enjoys great autonomy. The company has about 6,000 employees worldwide.

Less than 10 years old, the Edmonton firm last year had revenue of $52 million. This year’s estimates surpass $70 million.

Intuit began in Edmonton in 1993 when it bought out a small company founded by Bruce Johnson and Chad Frederick. Both have retained leadership roles. Johnson is president and CEO for Canada and the United Kingdom, Frederick is director of strategic planning.

Originally operating in a small entrepreneurial environment with no hierarchy, the company has maintained its grassroots character, says Buysen.

“We expect employees to challenge us. It’s almost an expectation that you challenge the ideas that are being floated around. It’s also expected that you try and come up with ideas that are out-of-the-box thinking.”

Ultimately the company philosophy boils down to respecting its employees, she says, and recognizing their role in Intuit’s success. (Last fall, Intuit was listed in another survey as being among the country’s top 100 employers.) It’s why Intuit has continued the Jasper tradition.

“It’s not just for employees,” says Buysen. “It’s a thank you to the families for their commitment. We take a holistic look at things . . . and recognize that sometimes families have to put up with inconveniences, that a parent might miss something or be late for dinner.”

As for R.O.B.’s second-place ranking, Buysen can’t wait to meet with Hewitt Associates for their review.

“I really want to know what it takes to be first,” she says.