City of Burnaby Employee Reviews

Work isn't too hard, management is questionable at times and workplace politics are rampant. Best to keep to yourself and don't exceed expectations lest you earn the scorn of your peers.

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Disappointment

Assistant Program Leader (Auxiliary) (Former Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 26 July 2023

Never felt appreciated and often was spoken to in a rude tone by higher authority. They are disrespectful and only care about themselves or their fellow higher ups who they want to impress. Was accused of multiple things and when I proved them wrong, there was no apology or acknowledgment, I was just ignored. Terrible work place. Especially the Parks and Recreation aspect.

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Insights into City of Burnaby

Based on 19 survey responses

Areas for improvement

Trust in colleagues
General feeling of work happiness
Sense of belonging

Disorganized Management

Heavy Duty Mechanic (Former Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 2 July 2023

Terrible employer, backstabbing central, don’t appreciate their employees, Management has no idea on what they are doing, if was a private company they would be bankrupt! Waste of taxpayer dollars every day! Don’t waste your time with this nonsense.

Pros

None

Cons

The whole place is a con

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Friendly environment and great team

Recreation Leader 2 (Current Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 1 June 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Flexibility and work environment What is the most stressful part about working at the company?Not enough hours available or shiftsWhat is the work environment and culture like at the company?Excellent place to work, respect and acceptance What is a typical day like for you at the company?Wearing number of different hats,

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Only go for experience, then get out

Bylaw Enforcement Officer (Former Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 25 April 2023

Get your experience and get out as soon as you can find employment somewhere else. Awful workplace environment rampant with bullying. Supervisors and management encourage employees to complain about each other and create hostility.

Pros

None

Cons

Management, toxic work culture, rotating randomized shifts

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Good job, use to be better

Sanitation Worker (Former Employee) - Burnaby - 21 February 2023

About 3 years to get on permanent full time, pay is a bit lower then other jobs, 4x10’s Mon-Thurs and get to leave 1 hour early if jobs is finished ahead of schedule

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Worker

Worker (Former Employee) - Burnaby - 14 January 2023

Absolutely terrible.Don’t waste your time. Extremely poorly managed. Scumbag central. Forepeople pick employees to befriend outside of work to gather information on others Horrible place. Literally work anywhere else

Pros

Finding work elsewhere

Cons

Working for burnaby

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Great environment

Coordinator (Former Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 10 January 2023

Loved the steady work also loved the pay. There is a palpable bitterness when someone who has been working longer than you witnesses you surpassing them

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Fun job

Lifeguard/Swim Instructor (Current Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 30 November 2022

I love being able to work with kids and being a lifeguard is pretty chill aswell. The staff is nice and the environment tends to be pretty chill depending on location and time of year

Pros

Fun

Cons

Not enough hours

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Pretty Great

Recreation (Former Employee) - Bonsor - 24 October 2022

I’ve worked for a few municipalities and the city of Burnaby definitely tops the list in terms of support for staff. Would recommend and would go back myself

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Jobs at City of Burnaby

Customer Service Representative (Police OCC)

A fun and inclusive place to work.

Lifeguard/Swimming Instructor (Current Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 5 October 2022

Burnaby takes care of their staff with competitive pay and providing a fun and inclusive environment. Their opportunity of hours are nice since we are able to choose our own hours and days we work, but managers and supervisors lack organization when it comes to scheduling and making sure your hours are correct on the schedule. ( you just have to clarify what hours you picked and don't let them push you around). There are many pros and cons to working in Burnaby... but overall I have enjoyed the last 5 years of my lifeguarding career here and call it home.

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Do not apply for job

inside worker wage while working outside (Current Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 6 September 2022

Do you know why there are always opportunities at Burnaby and no other municipality? Turnover is so high in my department, so many people transferred out, on stress leave, or left the organization and sacrificed lower wages! If you can land something better do it! No accountability for following collective agreement since it is so vague and can be articulated to assist management. Union doesn't want to participate since it is a cost burden. Management plays favorites so do not disappoint them or you'll be discredited by every department you go to! Also creates a toxic work environment where co-workers will spy on you when you least expected. Like most auxiliaries jobs, you get lieu in benefits but get treated like you don't matter. Union doesn't help you since their goal is to get auxiliaries into full-time or part-time roles and flat out told me they are not supporting me! Human Resources aligns with management and causes more tension by not understanding the role or responsibilities of the position. Horrible organization and wouldn't recommend working here.

Pros

none

Cons

read review

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Workers are stressed and depressed. No work/life balance

Administrator (Current Employee) - City Hall - 2 August 2022

My job is stressful. Add to that, working with leaders who are narcissistic sociopaths who bully staff does not help.Covid taught me how well the City of Burnaby really cares, as in DOES NOT, for their employees. The leaders of the City of Burnaby are under the illusion that this is the best place to work, it's not! Their pay is lower than most municipalities, and the HR department is broken. In fact most departments there are broken. The place needs a full overhaul and new leadership who are actually listening to the employees and not the bullcr@p from middle managers who don't listen or care about their staff, it's very discouraging.I wouldn't recommend working here to my worst enemy. I'm looking forward to quitting as soon as I find a different job! Best part of my day, is driving out of the parking lot and going home.

Pros

They have bathrooms and running water

Cons

There are too many cons to list. If they offer you a job RUN the other way!

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Low pay, weak union.

Labour (Current Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 26 May 2022

The union has no backbone and the pay is way under the private sector. The management sucks, and doesn't care, probably because they are under paid too. Can't retain any workers and every department is short staffed.

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Great people, good pay for what you do. Union aspect makes advancement tough.

Parks and Recreation Labourer (Current Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 5 February 2022

Simultaneously relaxed yet fast paced setting. Kind, personable, and knowledgeable bosses. Really good pay for some of the jobs. Advancement could be tough because of union.

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Because the City of Burnaby is a large municipal organization, every position and department will potentially have its own pros, cons and experiences.

Auxiliary Weight Room Recreation Leader (Current Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 19 January 2022

Because everyone in my position begins as an auxiliary worker, it can be difficult obtaining enough hours solely doing this job. Many people work other auxiliary positions within the City (or at other municipalities) to fill this need. Part-time and full-time permanent positions come very rarely and are highly competitive to obtain as the senior staff usually bid their time and are waiting to snatch the opportunity for permanent full-time work when it becomes available. Otherwise, the job duties are pretty standard and managers are good. Cannot complain about the work environment.

Pros

Good pay, unionized job, stress-free work environment.

Cons

Shift work, irregular hours/shifts, very few part-time and full-time positions.

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Very inclusive place to work at!

Janitor (Former Employee) - City of Burnaby - 4 January 2022

City of Burnaby cares about its employees and its a fun place to work at. Lot of room for advancement depending on what you would like to do for the rest of your life.

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Good work-life balance

Project Coordinator (Current Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 19 June 2020

Fulfilling work in providing service to the community. Positive teams overall. Workplace culture is generally respectful. Very well run municipality with healthy budget.

Pros

Good worklife balance

Cons

Lower pay compared to other municipalities

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Collaborative Environment

Seasonal Golf Assistant (Former Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 3 June 2020

Busyness fluctuates throughout the day, but working collaboratively makes it do-able. I learned to manage time, prioritize tasks, and honed my interpersonal skills.

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Important decision making and helping the community

Member Board of Variance,City of Burnaby (Current Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 12 May 2020

Board of Variance is a decision making process for homeowners who did not comply with the OCP but has the reason to believe that they should be given a chance to prove their hardship .

Pros

Free lunches and fun atmosphere

Cons

Sometimes stressful in making the right decisions

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Municipal Government

Community Recreation Leader (Former Employee) - Burnaby, BC - 5 March 2020

Works to provide services to citizens in an equal and accessible fashion. Lots of services and locations leading to a diverse array of employment opportunities.

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