The University of Northern B.C. is considered one of the B.C. top 100 employers in a 2012 poll released Friday.

The best in B.C. list was compiled by Mediacorp, the country’s largest publisher of employment periodicals, which also produced the list of Canada’s top 100 employers.

UNBC was one of only three organizations based outside of the Lower Mainland which made the list.

“We have known for a long time that UNBC is a desirable place to work,” says UNBC president George Iwama. “I’m so pleased that our faculty and staff are receiving this recognition because it is largely their efforts and dedication that make it so. UNBC is a passionate, hard-working community and we are honoured by this affirmation.”

The 22-year-old university earned high marks for allowing its 594 full-time employees several benefits, including:

Helping balance personal lives with employment duties by allowing flexible hours, telecommuting, variable work weeks, reduced summer hours and an earned days-off program;

Tuition subsidies for employees to further their education in related or unrelated fields of study;

Each new UNBC employee starts with three weeks of vacation time, leading to a maximum of five weeks holidays.

New mothers are eligible for maternity and parental leave top-up payments that will cover 100 per cent of their salary up to 52 weeks. New fathers and adoptive parents can receive 37 weeks off work at full salary;

UNBC has an onsite daycare for employees that will accommodate up to 57 children.

“Apart from the opportunity to work at a world-class institution on nature’s doorstep, UNBC provides employees access to a variety of career goals while enjoying an extremely high standard of living,” says Sheila Page, UNBC director of human resources.

“Employees regularly comment on UNBC’s modern architecture and bright, airy work space, the community atmosphere, our development programs, the extensive benefits packages we offer, and our ongoing commitment to being Canada’s green university.”

In its national poll, Mediacorp examined the operations, human resource practices and recruitment histories of more than 75,000 employers across the country and

invited 12,500 of them to apply.

The criteria used to judge the companies includes: physical workplace; work and social atmosphere; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; how employers handle employee feedback; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement.

Several other companies with employees based in Prince George made the B.C. top-100 list, including, B.C. Assessment, BC Housing Management Commission, BC Hydro, BC Public Service, B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch, B.C. Lottery Corporation, B.C. Public School Employers’ Association, B.C. Safety Authority, Collge of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C., Insurance Corporation of B.C., Ledcor Group, Provincial Health Services Authority, and Telus.