EMPLOYEE HEALTH & WELLNESS
Enbridge relies on numerous programs to help achieve our goal of
creating a healthy and illness-free workplace:
- early-return-to-work programs that help employees who are
recovering from an injury, illness or surgery to return to work in
a safe and timely manner
- employee voluntary assistance programs that offer confidential
counselling services to employees and their families on a broad
range of issues
- ergonomic programs that provide a systematic approach to
the prevention, evaluation and management of work-related soft
tissue injuries
- prevention programs that offer blood pressure checks and
on-site flu immunization
- lifestyle education for employees through lunch-and-learn
sessions, guest speakers, Web-based programs and health
awareness fairs
OUR PERFORMANCE
Encouraging personal fitness
In 2004, we launched our first ever Walk and Win Challenge in Enbridge
Gas Distribution. More than 110 employees signed up for the
eight-week event, during which employees wore a step counter that
measured their walking distance each day. Each employee walked on
average 108 kilometres (66 miles) over the two-month period. Liquids
Pipelines senior management and many employee groups completed
a "Race the Pipeline" challenge, with each group collectively traveling
a distance equivalent to the mainline system from Norman Wells to
Montreal via Chicago (some 4,560 kilometres or 2,830 miles).
Increasing health awareness among employees
The more information we share with employees on health issues,
the more we can assist them in managing personal and family health
issues. In 2004, to make employees more aware of the vast amount of
available health resources in the community, we hosted a health fair at
Enbridge Gas Distribution's Toronto headquarters, with exhibits from
local health agencies. Nearly 200 employees attended the one-day
event. We also carried out wellness seminars in our Houston office,
launching a Healthy Lifestyle Challenge, which recognizes and
rewards employees for carrying out healthy lifestyle activities, with
rebates on their health insurance premiums. A total of 300 people
signed up for the program, which will be completed in 2005.
Dealing proactively with emerging concerns
In the oil and gas business, an increasing health issue is the existence
of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) - tiny particles
that collect in piping, vessels, pumps and gas processing equipment
over time.
Although the science on this issue is evolving, it is believed that
these materials can present potential health hazards. To ensure our
employees are adequately protected, we are surveying facilities in our
operations. In 2004, Liquids Pipelines analyzed eight tank cleaning projects in Canada and the United States to determine the presence of NORM. Our studies indicated that, with one exception, the facilities
were below Canadian guidelines. In 2005, our U.S. Natural Gas
Business plans to survey aboveground facilities for NORM while
Enbridge Gas Distribution will test for NORM as part of pipeline
integrity activities.
WHERE ENERGY MEETS PEOPLE
Our vision to be North America's energy delivery leader depends on
the dedication, commitment and performance of an engaged and
highly skilled workforce. We strive to attract and retain the best talent,
and work with employees to support their development. We do this by
providing a positive work environment, offering opportunities for skill
and career development and providing them with competitive total
rewards programs.
The people of Enbridge
Enbridge believes that employees are the basis of our success. There is
an initiative now in progress to define an Enbridge "People Strategy"
to underscore this belief. Details will be available in 2005.
Workforce statistics
In 2004, Enbridge experienced several changes to its organization,
including the acquisition of Shell Gas Transmission in the Gulf of
Mexico from Shell US Gas & Power LLC. At year-end, our and our
affiliates' regular employees (full-time and part-time) totalled more
than 4,500. Most of our employees work in our Canadian and U.S.
operations. In addition, we hire temporary employees for projects
and seasonal work.
Organization of human resources
We take a proactive and strategic approach to the management of
our human capital. One of the ways in which we do this is through a
company-wide Human Resources (HR) Council, consisting of senior
HR professionals representing all business units. The 11-person
council shares best practices, provides strategic advice on HR issues
to senior management and stewards the management of human
capital across all businesses. In early 2005, a new charter was created
for the council to reinforce its role and service to the organization.
In our business units, we also stress the role of local managers and
leaders in contributing daily to strong employee relations, promoting
employee development and creating a positive and supportive
work environment. At Enbridge, Human Resources facilitates the
management of human capital; individual leaders manage people.
Performance management
Performance management is paramount to meeting our business goals
and creating and sustaining a highly effective workforce. We support
employees in effectively aligning their contribution as an individual
with the strategic goals of Enbridge's business. This helps to ensure
strategic alignment of employees' work efforts for strong individual and
corporate performance and the development of career opportunities for
individuals within Enbridge.
In 2004, we implemented a new performance management
program company-wide, which strengthens the relationship between
employee performance, performance coaching and feedback, and
performance rewards. Performance reviews and discussions occur
regularly throughout the year. Clear communications, collaborative
goal-setting and frequent opportunities for measurement and
feedback from their managers and leaders are facilitated by the process.
Employees are encouraged to consider their development and career
objectives against five core competencies: customer focus, execution
and results, flexibility, interpersonal skills and job/technical skills.
Total rewards
Our approach to total rewards encompasses a comprehensive suite
of programs aimed at attracting and retaining talented workers. Our
base salary programs aim to strike a balance to be internally fair and
externally competitive. Our incentive programs are linked to performance
at various levels, providing opportunity for employees, at all
organizational levels, to be rewarded for the achievement of goals and
objectives that support our company's strategic directions.
In 2004, we strengthened Enbridge's commitment to pay for
performance by implementing a new incentive program for salaried
employees below senior management. The new program is characterized
by a stronger connection between company, business unit and
individual performance, along with enhanced communications to
employees about incentive opportunities.
As a complement to our compensation programs, we provide
pension, benefits, savings plans and vacation programs to support
our employees and their families in meeting their current and future
needs. Through these programs, our aim is to offer flexibility and
choices while providing competitive levels of coverage. To complete
the total rewards picture, Enbridge also offers employees opportunities
for challenging work and growth.
Leadership and employee development
We are highly committed to leadership and employee development at
all levels of our organization, and have undertaken several initiatives
since our last CSR report.
For example, the function of Leadership and Employee Development
has been redefined in Enbridge and now includes stewardship of
the function at the corporate level through collaboration across all
business units. Local human resources professionals oversee the design
and delivery of employee development offerings, which are designed
to respond to local business needs and by design vary throughout
our organization. Greater integration of development and programs
for leadership, high-potential employee development and of succession
planning management processes across the enterprise is now
being established.
Our employees have the opportunity to develop their business
and leadership skills through internal and external targeted development
programs, challenging assignments and ongoing performance
feedback and coaching. At the field level, employees receive training
largely focused on technical skills, EH&S, regulatory training and
competency development.
We continually look for creative opportunities that benefit the
growth of our people and contribute to tomorrow's workforce. In
2004, we entered into a partnership with the University of Calgary's
Haskayne School of Business to establish and launch the Enbridge
Undergraduate Mentorship Program at the school. Thanks to the
program, business students at the university now have a new opportunity
to gain valuable insights into the business acumen and knowledge
needed to successfully develop and manage a career. Helping to provide
those insights are employees at Enbridge's Calgary office representing
several of our business units. The program provides a unique opportunity
to grow and develop our people, through interaction with students and
formal mentorship training. In 2004, 49 employees participated in this
program as mentors.
Besides our employee development programs, we offer a tuition
reimbursement program to provide financial support to employees who
are continuing to advance their education to support their career goals.
Enbridge also offers a scholarship program enterprise-wide to support
access to education for children of employees.
Work environment
Enbridge has a firm commitment to creating a healthy and positive
work environment. The company's workplace harassment and antidiscrimination
policies denote our strong commitment to maintaining
the dignity and respect of all employees. We also subscribe to the
principles of a fair and equitable work environment.
Our work environment promotes a diversity of roles and
enriched job experience through project work and participation on
cross-functional teams. We also encourage our employees to take
an active role in their communities through a variety of volunteer
committees and United Way activities.
Each of our businesses recognizes the special achievements of
our employees on an ongoing basis. These activities include service
awards, monetary gifts, recognition in our internal communications
and opportunities for challenging assignments.
Employee communications
Effective internal communications keeps our employees well
informed and involved in company activities, and offers them an
important avenue to contribute feedback. We actively engage our
employees through:
- annual employee meetings
- our intranet and employee newsletters
- regular e-mail updates to employees
- business performance review videos
- local "face-to-face" sessions that enable employees to meet our CEO and share their questions, issues and recommendations
- local manager and leader updates to employees
- local and regional EH&S committees and working groups, where employees and management meet regularly to discuss local EH&S issues
- active employee social clubs
Enbridge employees are also invited each year to employee
annual meetings across our organization to learn about the company's
plans for strategic growth. These forums provide an opportunity for
employees to meet with our CEO, local senior leadership and guests
to discuss the challenges and opportunities for Enbridge, and ask
questions about the issues that matter to them. In 2004, we held
employee annual meetings in Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and
Houston. Question and answer segments in the annual meetings
covered business strategy, workforce planning, strategic projects,
total compensation, and much more.
Employee involvement
Recognizing the importance of an engaged workforce and effective
channels of upward communication, Enbridge engaged a leading
international consulting group to carry out the 2004 Perspectives
Project, our first company-wide employee engagement survey. The
survey asked employees to share their perceptions about their work
with Enbridge and their workplace, soliciting their feedback on a
variety of subjects, including corporate direction, communication,
training and career development, job stress, employee satisfaction/
commitment and compensation and benefits.
A sample of the results of the survey, completed by 67% of
Enbridge's workforce, show that:
- 70% of respondents rate Enbridge as one of the best places to work
- 78% say they feel proud to work for Enbridge
- 80% agree or strongly agree that Enbridge is a highly ethical organization
- 82% rate Enbridge as good or very good at providing a safe and healthy working environment
Employees also perceive that there are areas for improvement,
including:
- employee communication
- coaching and developing people
- total rewards and recognition for employee performance
Management has responded by undertaking detailed action
plans to address areas for improvement and will survey employees
again in 2005 to track progress and make adjustments, as needed.
^ top of page |