CNL overall is a good company to work for. I personally enjoy the type of work I do and look forward to growing with the company. The company, like many others, needs to work out a plan to make wages more competitive in the current run-away inflation crisis.

Pros

Interesting work, good flexibility and work life balance.

Cons

Somewhat low pay for the cost of living in the area.

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Good place to work

Cyber Security Analyst (Former Employee) - Fredericton, NB - 7 April 2022

Good place to work...The pension is great compared to other private sector.Unionized position. I had worked with lot of experience knowdgeble people

Pros

Good learning curve

Cons

Some time work is slow

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Insights into Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

Based on 5 survey responses

What people like

Feeling of personal appreciation
Clear sense of purpose
Ability to learn new things

Areas for improvement

Ability to meet personal goals
Energizing work tasks
Inclusive work environment

Energy and drive are not rewarded.

Manager (Former Employee) - Deep River, ON - 2 February 2022

The organization is driven by procedure and rules that often interfere with the efficient and successful completion of projects. Energy and drive are not rewarded. Management often has an adversarial relationship with staff, partially driven by distrust between union and management. Very unpleasant work experience.

Pros

Good salary for young professionals.

Cons

Projects are driven by procedure manuals.

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Salary,benefits and hours are very well above the average for the location. The working environment needs improvement

Project Coordinator (Current Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 12 January 2022

Work is oriented around projects. With many levels of management that focuse on the paperwork end of projects, more than focusing on the implementation of the actual project work. Many people find this frustrating as they would like to have more time to be in the field. The governing body, the PMO has implemented many changes in the policies, procedures and software for project controls without testing that they work or without providing the proper training. Many times a change is sent out to projects without checking how it impacts their other procedures or if the software works. There is also testing that project control coordinators are required to take by the PMO that is very generic and not streamlined to CNL expectations, policies or procedures. The tight reporting deadlines, strict PMO guidelines, the unclear expectations and constant change generates a very toxic environment. This toxic environment creates a high turn over in the project management staff . Full time workers are also held to higher expectations than staff that are contract workers. The plus side area is great if you would like to live in a rural area, or you have the option to work remotely. The people are great resulting in many great freindships outside of work. If you want to work in projects consider a contract position that would allow high pay and lower work expectations. The key is to make sure you get clear expectations of what you are responsible for and what your co workers are responsible. The PMO recently have been conducting meetings asking for input, but -

Pros

Beautiful area, Co-workers who live in the area want to see CNL as a long-term employer, Great benefits, If you like change the constant change in staff and procedures will keep you happy.

Cons

Constant change, many ayers of management, Uncertainty in expectations, Many contract workers focus on short term goals.

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Nice but inefficient

Research Scientist (Current Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 27 April 2021

I liked my work and wasn't stressed. The range of work is great and managers are understanding but the beaurocracy slows work so much that it really hamstrings research.

Pros

Good wage, low stress

Cons

Inefficient

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Respected and treated like a valuable member of the team.

Training Consultant (Current Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 29 January 2021

I love this place. Love it.Perhaps it is because I am a 31 year veteran AND worked for 5 years for a company providing training for the military that I just amazed that supervisors/managers can be respectful and not abusive. The respect I receive is off the charts and the benefits are equally amazing. I simply love love my job of courseware development.

Pros

Creative freedom.

Cons

The odd dinosaur who should retire.

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Great Place to work

Electrician (Former Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 23 February 2020

Good experience for other jobs easy work and lots of available overtime Friendly enviroment + Flexible + Good bosses Great pay , respectful environment

Pros

Great People

Cons

Very Political

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lacking ethics, leadership

Project Lead (Current Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 29 January 2020

Wide range of work environments, as organization is very compartmentalized. Lots of corporate noise about ethics, transformation, safety and respect. Actual behaviour does not align with messaging. The site operating company exists to milk as much from their 10 year contract as they can, and don't seem to have any qualms about misrepresenting the success of their projects and initiatives. The key to a advancement is being willing to repeat any corporate spin without shame. "High Performing Organization" means layoffs. "Environmental Remediation" means creating rubble piles by tearing down buildings. "Safety Culture" means lots of paperwork and no ownership. I could go on. If you are a performer, be prepared to be obstructed at every turn. The place is still a bureaucracy. How you are treated will depend on who you work for. Some groups have managers that should never be put in charge of people. Bullies. Others have genuinely good people and competent leaders in charge. Management direction is schizophrenic as there seems to be a revolving door at the director level. The more junior you are, and the less you know, the better this place gets. Good pay for the area, adequate benefits, untested pension plans (cut off from government pension plans in 2018). If you have to take medical time off, be prepared for daily calls and demands to return to work from Morneau Shepell agents. They have a contract to harass employees back to work. DO NOT recommend for positions with IT, Supply Chain, Project Management, Health and Safety, Trades, Environmental Sciences. Most of the -

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unique workplace

Software Development Intern - C++ Simulation & Modeling (Former Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 5 December 2019

has a relaxed culture as it is government, it was an internship so pay was slightly above average but the type of work you get to work on is super interesting.

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Challenging work in an interesting field

Business Development (Current Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 14 November 2019

CNL is a great place to work. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly. The environment inside and outside is peaceful and refreshing and the location is beautiful on the banks of the Ottawa river. CNL is a growing company that was previously a crown corporation. After privatizing about five years ago, many transformations are occurring including new infrastructure, more commercial focus and strategic focus on exciting new technologies that solve challenges in energy, the environment, security and health including nuclear medicine and the effects of low dose radiation. CNL's focus on the future is evident in their work in clean energy solutions such as hydrogen technologies and research in areas like cyber security and machine learning. The benefits are great. There is a lot of room to growth. Science is fun and the world is investing into it. A nice place to be.

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Jobs at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

Administrative Assistant

Chalk River, ON

30+ days ago

Nuclear Security Officer (Trainee) Casual

Chalk River, ON

30+ days ago

2022-2023 Administrative Assistant - TALENT POOL

Chalk River, ON

10 days ago

Mechanical Service Attendant (2 vacancies)

Chalk River, ON

12 days ago

Great people at worker level - not so much at senior management

human resources (Former Employee) - Deep River, ON - 9 September 2019

Prior to the company becoming Government Owned, Contractor Operated (GOCO) it was a truly great place to work. Great people, good culture. Since then, the atmosphere has been quite tense, with vast uncertainty about the future. If you are just looking for short term work with good pay, it could be a good fit for you. If you are looking for a career, look elsewhere. And if you decide to work there and are coming in from another area, rent and don't buy a home!

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Okay

Projects (Current Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 19 August 2019

CNL is contractor ran and over the last few years there seems to be a decline in morale and lack of respect and communication. This has made if difficult to get work done but have been able to attend lots of training.

Pros

Salary is okay

Cons

Contractor Operated

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Career path work in a remote rural setting

Section Head - Operations (Current Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 24 May 2019

At cnl you can live cheaply in a beautiful setting but still earn like you live in a city. Perfect place if you enjoy the outdoors and want a career in science and tech

Pros

Interesting work. Pays well. Good benefits

Cons

Can be cliquey. Remote location means you make your own entertainment.

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Room For Improvement

Project Control Co-ordinator (Current Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 27 April 2019

Always challenges due in part to the diverse types of projects that are taken on. Good people to work with, Need upgrades to Project Control software, and how to use.

Pros

good benefits

Cons

long days

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Aging Workforce and dramatic culture shift

R&D Technologist (Current Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 26 January 2019

Working in R&D, if you can handle bureaucracy, procedures and approvals involving multiple personnel, then you will enjoy working here. There doesn't seem to be a clear mission right now due to the shift from a public to a private corporation. There is an attempt to provide a goals and meet milestones, but most of that work is being performed by contractors and temporary workers. Most upper managers have not had any personal experience in working in the private sector and are having a hard time trying to adjust and provide work and funding for most of their employees. It makes for long days when you can't find any work to be done.

Pros

Good Pay and Benefits, Flexible work schedule

Cons

Secure faculty and unknown future

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Interesting and chalenging job

Safety & Licensing Specialist (Current Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 22 September 2018

Interesting job with great work colleagues. Move into private management in last 3 years (government owned, contractor operated). Undergoing a major re-organization.

Pros

Good salaries and benifits

Cons

Much change and re-organization over the last 3 years sinse contractors took over management.

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good workplace with employee benefits

Accounting and Reporting Analyst (Current Employee) - Deep River, ON - 22 August 2018

good workplace diversity in culture friendly collogues employee benefits management good flexible work times highly educated workforce prod history in research

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Work/Life Balance

Administrative Assistant (Full-time) (Current Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 8 August 2018

CNL lets you easily enjoy a work and home life balance, you are usually home every night and you get paid well enough that you feel okay to leave and not have to work extra hours.

Pros

Good Pay, Paid Training, Opportunity to advancing your career

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Worked here for 13 years +. Would go back.

Manager (Former Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 25 June 2018

Great opportunity for training and advancement. Has benefits and pension package. Commute was a little tiresome (45 min) each way. All types of employment offered on the R&D campus (days, shift) technical, non-technical etc.

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Great benefits, nice plant, uncertainty

Corporate Adminstrative Assistant (Former Employee) - Chalk River, ON - 22 November 2017

Long waits in traffic to arrive in mornings, lots of parking but far walk to offices. Necessary security processes make it difficult for break time to get to food accessibility. Remote location require travel to work with no transit options for the local area. Overall great place to work if you are willing to do the drive and walks, benefits are incredible as well as the salaries. Atmosphere is good but some uncertainty for the future of the company however promises for a growing organization.

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Secure employment with good renumeration

HR Associate (Former Employee) - Chalk River, Ontario - 6 November 2017

CNL is a great place to work but definitely needs to work on management. The people there love to work but management is holding them back. Morale would be better if upper management focused more on their employees than their annual bonuses.