Quebec employees can book stay at small island – for free
One Quebec employer has gone far beyond the ordinary to boost its benefits offering for workers.
Mon Technicien – a Montreal-based data services company – recently bought a private island to allow workers to book stays, according to a report from The Canadian Press.
Employees are not directly charged for their vacations on the 930-square-metre island in the Laurentian Mountains, located northwest of Montreal. However, the perk is taxable.
All 30 Mon Technicien employees can book stays at the island which features a two-bedroom cabin with enough room for eight people. There’s also a barbecue, pedal boat, dinghy and other water sports equipment.
Sylvain Dion, Mon Technicien president, said his company jumped on the opportunity to buy the island hoping to attract more prospective job applicants, according to the The Canadian Press report.
The company’s website says employees can enjoy it with their families or in groups or to work on a specific project: “Located 25 minutes from Mont-Tremblant, offering skiing, paddleboarding, fishing, rowing, and much more.”
Team-bonding activities is one perk employers are looking to provide for workers this year, according to a Forbes report.
However, workers have found vacationing a challenge, according to previous reports. Only 58% of Gen Zs plan to take some vacation in the next few months, and 31% of them cited the state of the economy for their lack of vacation plans this year, according to LinkedIn.
And 35% of employees feel an expectation to work while on their vacation, reported Deloitte.
“Prioritize the benefits that support work-life balance for employees and showcase your understanding of their needs as a whole person beyond their role in your company,” said Dana Miranda, a certified educator in personal finance (CEPF), in the Forbes report.
On its website, Mon Technicien also promises employee benefits such as “flexible compensation” that’s “tailored to your reality,” summer hours with a personalized schedule, group insurance, virtual healthcare and a la carte services.
