Co-op invests in its team members and supports their professional growth, development and success. Team members are able to advance to positions of greater responsibility with experience as well as internal and external training opportunities.

Training seminars and programs are available to team members at all levels. Specific internal training programs include:

• Student programs: Provides summer employment or co-operative education placements to students in diploma or degree programs to support their career development and prepare them for future opportunities.
• Management programs: Provides mentorship opportunities, training seminars and hands-on experience to manage the operations for a department or the entire co-operative association.

To help reach their career and educational goals, team members may qualify to have 75 per cent of their tuition reimbursed upon successful completion of an approved program.

We support your growth with education assistance, scholarship programs, and an Employee and Family Assistance Program.

At Co-op, we believe that meaningful careers are built together as a partnership planned and developed by you and supported by your team leader and our organization.

With this in mind, team members across the CRS will now have access to an improved Education Assistance Program. The Education Assistance Program is designed to support and encourage individual development through formal education.

We’re offering more benefits to better support our team members while they further their education externally to support their careers at Co-op.

Scope: The Education Assistance Program is offered to all employees in the CRS

Professional Development is a wide variety of specialized learning opportunities including formal education, degrees, conferences, training seminars, e-learning and other formal and informal learning programs to enhance learning.

Note: In the context of this program, Professional Development is referred to as any development opportunity that doesn’t fall under Education Assistance.

Education Assistance is the two-tiered benefit program to support professional development of its employees through tuition reimbursement and other education-related support.

(Currently a feature for local Co-ops under the local Co-op Learning and Development Retainer program)

Post-Secondary Education Assistance (tier one) all courses, degrees, certificates and/or diplomas post high school diploma as part of an accredited program (e.g. certificate, diploma, or degree) from a post-secondary education institution, for example:

• Administrative diploma
• Adult education certificate
• Business administration certificate or diploma
• Any bachelor’s degree
• Single course taken in a semester, even if it doesn’t contribute towards a degree, diploma or certificate from a post-secondary education institution

Advanced Education Assistance (tier two) includes all master’s-level courses as part of an accredited master’s program, for example:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Accounting (MPAcc)
• CPA designation
• Master of Engineering
• Single master’s-level course taken in a semester, even if it doesn’t contribute towards master’s-level degree
• Any post-secondary education exceeding the overall benefit amount of $6,000 per year

Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a plan of action collaboratively developed by the team member and their team leader for the team member to carry out professional development activities

Advanced Education Assistance Committee has decision-making authority in all the Advanced Education Assistance requests

There are opportunities to advance at your local Co-op and other Co-op locations of the entire Co-operative Retailing System across Western Canada. There are also career possibilities at Federated Co-operatives Limited, the co-operatively owned wholesaler and manufacturer for all local Co-ops. Learn more about Co-op.

Counselling. Coaching. Support.

Professional.

We guarantee your confidentiality. We are Homewood Health™, a trusted Canadian company with years of experience delivering the best possible support for clients like you. Everyone is guaranteed confidentiality within the limits of the
law. You won’t be identified to anybody — including your employer.

Choices

Counselling that’s convenient for you. Counselling is available in person, by phone, by video, or online. There is no cost to you. Offices are local and appointments are made quickly, with your convenience in mind. Have a preference for location, gender, appointment time? We’ll do our best to accommodate your preferences.

Plan Smart

Lifestyle and specialty counselling You can receive counselling and coaching for a variety of life balance and health issues, or get expert support to better manage your career. Plan Smart services are available by phone.

Counselling

For all of life’s challenges Your Employee and Family Assistance Program helps you take practical and effective steps to improve your well-being and be the best you can be. We offer a supportive, confidential, and caring environment and will provide you with counselling for any challenge:

• Family
• Depression
  
• Marital
• Life transitions/change
  
• Relationships
• Grief/bereavement
  
• Addictions
• Stress
  
• Anxiety
• Other personal issues

Online Resources

The right information at the right time Access Homeweb anytime for e-Learning, interactive tools, health and wellness assessments, and a library of health, life balance, and workplace articles.

Visit https://www.co-op.crs/careers for more information careers in the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS)