Canada Revenue Agency – “Exceptional worklife balance, generous pension plan if you stay for the long haul”

Pros

-people are generally nice to work with - professional and strive to do a good job in preserving the tax base
-Exceptional worklife/balance - can usually plan workload so few intense periods of activity, very flexible in booking leave on short notice
-37.5 hour work week and any overtime is paid at 1.5 (seldom)
-Flexible work schedule allows additional days off during the month
-4 to 5 weeks vacation (depending upon years of service) can be taken any time of the year
-Generous defined benefits pension plan (2% per year of service calculated on the average of the best 5 years to a maximum of 70%)
-Lots of opportunities to experience other jobs if you demonstrate desire and competence - up to the employee to apply. Other opportunities include: Appeals, Litigation, Criminal investigation, Electronic Commerce, Scientific Research, International Tax Audit, Tax Avoidance, Technical Advisor/Trainer.
-Lots of professional development courses offered

Cons

-need a thick skin as auditors are not treated with respect. Receiving end of taxpayer dislike of all government policies and legislation even though CRA doesn't set the rules.
-Pay for Professionals has fallen below market. Government gives CA/CGAs a pay increase % that is the same as clerks and mailroom staff.
-Trouble attracting and retaining good staff because of below market pay. Start of a brain drain in the last 3 years as senior auditors and managers are retiring.
-New HR regime based on Competencies is poorly implemented. Competencies poorly defined and HR assessors have little or no clue what the job involves when they evaluate a level of competence.
-Employment Equity is excessively applied. Best candidate may not get job as other factors such as being a women or visible minority come into play. If you are female, minority, or bilingual you have an advantage.

Advice to Senior Management

-Dump the Competency regime.
-Pay the market rate for Professionals or face a shortage of qualfied staff
-Recognize that a retirement disaster is looming and get Government to provide resources to deal with it
-Don't mess with the pension plan, it's the only reason many staff stay for the long term.