In a post-pandemic world marked by remote flexibility, mental wellness awareness, and diversity-driven values, Canadian companies are redefining what it means to “go to work.” From coast to coast, workplaces are embracing bold, innovative strategies to foster happier, more engaged, and purpose-driven employees. Here’s a closer look at 28 Canadian organizations leading the charge.
Shopify
Shopify has long been a poster child for workplace innovation. Even before the pandemic, this Ottawa-based e-commerce giant promoted flexibility and autonomy. Post-2020, it adopted a fully remote model, emphasizing “Digital by Design.” Employees work from anywhere, and collaboration is supported by cutting-edge tools, generous wellness stipends, and asynchronous communication strategies that respect deep work and personal time.
Lululemon
The Vancouver-born activewear company continues to fuse wellness into the heart of its culture. Lululemon’s workplace includes mindfulness zones, on-site yoga classes, and mental health resources that go beyond standard coverage. Employees benefit from product discounts, paid volunteer days, and a culture that blends athleticism with purpose. Internal mobility and personal development are key pillars of their evolving culture.
TELUS
TELUS has reimagined itself as more than just a telecom company. It offers flexible work models, encourages mental health check-ins, and prioritizes social impact through its TELUS Days of Giving. Their Work Styles program lets team members choose how and where they work, with results-focused performance measures replacing traditional time-tracking norms.
RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)
RBC is modernizing the finance world’s traditionally rigid structure. The company emphasizes hybrid work, inclusive hiring, and leadership development tailored for the future of banking. Its “Future of Work” initiative addresses digital literacy, adaptability, and empathy in management, all while supporting employee networks around race, gender identity, and mental well-being.
Slack (Canadian Division)
Slack’s Canadian offices mirror the tool’s commitment to connectivity and ease. The company champions asynchronous collaboration, remote-first policies, and a commitment to transparency. Employees enjoy “no meeting Wednesdays,” extensive wellness reimbursements, and structured onboarding that nurtures long-term engagement and professional growth, even for fully remote hires.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite, the Vancouver-based social media management firm, revamped its culture after a pandemic-induced reckoning. The company prioritized mental wellness, DEI efforts, and team rituals that foster belonging without forcing rigid schedules. They’ve introduced “Wellness Weeks” and radical transparency from leadership, creating a space where staff feel safe to be vulnerable and ambitious at once.
Benevity
Calgary’s Benevity helps organizations empower charitable giving—and walks the talk internally. Its inclusive culture celebrates volunteerism, intersectionality, and psychological safety. The company’s flexible work policy supports employee autonomy while purpose and belonging remain core to its internal storytelling. Managers are trained in empathetic leadership, and cross-functional collaboration is encouraged through regular team-led “impact days.”
Wealthsimple
Wealthsimple is building more than just a user-friendly investment platform—it’s cultivating a radically transparent workplace. Their open salary policy, anti-racism education initiatives, and flat management structure offer employees clarity and accountability. Wellness stipends, equity incentives, and liberal leave policies all support a culture that values the whole human, not just the role.
Rangle.io
Rangle.io, a Toronto-based tech consultancy, reimagines workplace culture around autonomy and inclusivity. Team members are trusted to make decisions at every level, with mentorship baked into the workflow. DEI isn’t a siloed function—it’s part of hiring practices, project planning, and leadership evaluations. Their flexible scheduling policy puts outcomes above hours.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks, a cloud accounting software company headquartered in Toronto, infuses joy into every part of its work culture. From creative slack channels to remote coffee chats and generous professional development budgets, the company thrives on community and creativity. Leaders maintain open calendars, and hybrid models are tailored individually to suit personal and team needs.
Klick Health
Klick Health, one of Canada’s top health marketing firms, treats culture as a competitive advantage. With a people-first mentality, the company provides customized career development, psychological safety training, and flexible working arrangements. Klick also nurtures creative rituals,from secret concerts to innovation hackathons, that blur the line between work and inspiration.
OpenText
OpenText, a Waterloo-based information management company, champions digital employee experience. Its hybrid work policies are rooted in purpose, not just convenience. Mental health benefits are expanded and accessible, and employees are encouraged to take “focus days” free of meetings. The company invests heavily in leadership training and career pathing, reflecting a long-term vision of talent sustainability.
Interac
Interac fosters a culture of collaboration through purpose-driven work and agile models. With a strong focus on financial literacy and accessibility, employees are motivated by meaningful goals. Interac provides digital learning tools, flexible work-from-home options, and well-being benefits that include mental health support and self-care stipends. Their workplace culture reflects trust and empowerment.
Ceridian
Ceridian, the HR software firm behind Dayforce, models what it sells. Its own people strategies include performance-driven flexibility, DEI-led leadership development, and continuous feedback loops. Ceridian champions internal mobility and offers learning stipends that encourage skill-building across departments, not just vertically. Transparency, empathy, and purpose form the backbone of this evolving workplace.
SkipTheDishes
This Winnipeg-based food delivery platform has transformed its culture through transparency and employee voice. Regular all-hands meetings, anonymous surveys, and a strong internal comms team ensure everyone feels heard. Their approach to DEI, mental health days, and flexible shifts reflects a commitment to personal balance in a fast-paced environment.
Ecobee
Toronto’s Ecobee, known for its smart home devices, applies the same innovation to its workplace policies. The company offers unlimited vacation, hybrid flexibility, and “focus Fridays” without meetings. Employee development is bolstered by leadership coaching, lunch-and-learns, and an open-door culture where suggestions from interns and execs are treated with equal respect.
Clio
Clio, the legal tech firm based in Burnaby, champions “human and high-performing” values. The workplace offers generous mental health coverage, “unplug days” off, and financial education programs. Their radical transparency philosophy includes salary bands and open performance discussions. Clio has built a workplace where ambition and empathy are not mutually exclusive.
1Password
This cybersecurity firm built a remote-first model well before the pandemic. With staff across time zones, 1Password emphasizes asynchronous workflows, strong documentation, and social connection tools that make distance feel manageable. Their culture of trust allows people to work when and how they’re most productive, while generous PTO policies ensure burnout stays at bay.
League
League, a digital health company, puts well-being at the heart of its workplace design. Their benefits aren’t just external products—they shape the employee experience. With flexible hours, mental wellness stipends, and leadership check-ins focused on personal development, League has built a culture that aligns performance with purpose and health.
Ritual
Ritual, the food ordering app, blends startup energy with people-first strategies. Employees enjoy monthly wellness budgets, virtual social events, and “work from anywhere” weeks. The company holds biannual retreats that focus on team-building and personal growth. Ritual’s commitment to flexibility and connection stands out in the competitive tech landscape.
North (acquired by Google)
Though acquired by Google, the former Kitchener-based smart glasses company North maintained its startup DNA. Before integration, its team was known for its open innovation labs, flexible project structures, and democratic decision-making. Its flat hierarchy and emphasis on design thinking continue to influence Google’s Canadian teams today.
Thinkific
Thinkific, the online course platform from Vancouver, runs on trust and transparency. Employees are encouraged to block out focus time, engage in monthly wellness days, and pursue internal mobility without barriers. Their People & Culture team hosts regular “pulse checks” to assess morale and experiment with new cultural practices based on team input.
Wave
Wave, a Toronto-based fintech company, makes mental wellness a part of the business plan. Their benefits include therapy sessions, mindfulness training, and financial literacy workshops. The company’s leadership promotes a calm, low-meeting culture, and weekly check-ins help managers stay aware of individual needs without micromanaging.
Ada
Ada, a Toronto AI customer experience company, builds culture around clarity and inclusion. The organization offers self-managed PTO, internal mentorship networks, and a Culture & Belonging team that facilitates events and workshops. Ada’s flexible work policies come with clear expectations, and the company uses real-time data to iterate on what’s working, or not.
Wattpad
Wattpad nurtures creativity from within. Employees at this storytelling platform enjoy flexible schedules, open office hours with leadership, and dedicated time for personal projects. The culture emphasizes individual voices, from employee resource groups to hack days and DEI-centered initiatives. Wattpad’s internal community is as rich and diverse as its stories.
PointClickCare
This healthcare tech company has reinvented itself as a destination for purpose-driven work. With a strong mission to improve senior care, PointClickCare supports its teams with hybrid options, family-friendly policies, and leadership focused on inclusion and empathy. Their internal “Innovation Lab” encourages employees to take ownership of ideas and drive change.
League of Innovators
This nonprofit focused on youth entrepreneurship practices what it preaches. It runs a lean, flexible operation with team members encouraged to work from anywhere, even globally. Weekly check-ins, shared leadership structures, and mutual coaching define its flat, non-hierarchical culture. Everyone is empowered to lead initiatives, regardless of title.
Koho
Fintech firm Koho emphasizes radical empathy in its culture. With unlimited vacation, no set work hours, and clear communication expectations, employees feel trusted and supported. The company also runs inclusivity audits, mental wellness days, and transparent leadership briefings. Koho’s culture reflects a belief that people do their best work when they feel seen and safe.
22 Times Canadian Ingenuity Left the U.S. in the Dust
When people think of innovation, they often picture Silicon Valley. However, Canada has a history of innovation, too. Whether it’s redefining sports, revolutionizing medicine, or just showing America up at its own game, Canadian inventors, thinkers, and dreamers have had their fair share of mic-drop moments. Here are 22 times Canadian ingenuity left the U.S. in the dust.
22 Times Canadian Ingenuity Left the U.S. in the Dust
