Pulaski

The leave thing is perhaps the easiest to negotiate because it is a non-cash benefit that doesn't directly hit your employer's revenue/profit.

Atlantic Xpat

My sense is that 3 weeks is increasingly seen as the norm - at least for forward thinking companies who aren't US subsidiaries (!)- and over that is generous. Certainly my employer - which admittedly is a Canadian subsidiary of a UK company - has 3 weeks as the norm at all levels. YMMV of course.

To the OP I think most things have been captured already. Be aware that Extended health benefits are particularly important ... otherwise you will pay prescriptions at market value (no flat fee in Canada as per UK).

R I C H

I think that's true. I was offered a position today with a 4 week vacation allowance, increasing by 2 days per year after each year of service, and I was asked if that was enough.

Extended health sometimes is offered after an initial qualifying period (such as a probationary 6 months of service). I'd negotiate for it to be made available from the start if possible.

Atlantic Xpat

Good point and one that I've also negotiated on in the past. You definitely want extended health kicking in immediately if you can.

Shirtback

That may differ from province to province, & depend on one's (visa/immigrant) status.

As a PR, I did manage to negotiate access to company health plan back-dated to the start date of my probationary period; that enabled me to avoid the insurance company's probationary period.

orly

Goes from 2 weeks up to 6 weeks where I work. Depends on length of service of course.

My dad back in the UK chuckled obviously...but he has 35 days + bank holidays.

scottymallo

4 weeks vacation is very attainable these days for people with 10-15 years experience in the role they are been offered.

BristolUK

Very attainable for all (or even most) or pretty much limited to those with job types/salary expectations a fair bit higher than average?
Federally regulated employees are entitled to a minimum of two weeks of vacation annually after completing one year of employment with the same employer. After six consecutive years of employment with the same employer, the entitlement increases to three weeks of vacation annually.
Perhaps "role they have been offered" (in demand) is key here, as opposed to getting the job applied for.

Doing some random checking via glassdoor.ca...Banks seems to be 4 weeks after 10 years; Loblaws varies but 4 weeks could be 7 years or even nothing until 3 years done; Sobeys= 2 weeks, 3 @ 5 years; Best Buy 10 days, no mention of upgrade; Walmart looks like a new system and 3 weeks; Ontario Health - not much info other than standard 3 weeks.

Just a selection....

Lifebeginsat36

Thank you all. The company offered pretty much everything you have suggested without me having to ask - I managed to negotiate additional annual leave. Knowing what they were offering/what I should ask for was very useful.

Now the wait for the LMIA starts - does anyone know if they will require anything from me before they can submit the application? They are preparing the paperwork for submission later this week under the 10 day process. Apparently their lawyer will contact me shortly.

Also, my married name is not my professional/maiden name. My passport states "also known as" since work travel has regularly been in my maiden name. Will it be a problem of the LMIA and contract are in my professional name?

johntheScot

I would have all the paper work visaWP/PR applications, contracts etc in my legal name.