City of Calgary Employee Reviews

What is the best part of working at the company?Good place to work and benefits What is the most stressful part about working at the company?Split shifts and no GPS system in buses 🤦‍♀️What is the work environment and culture like at the company?Very friendly and supportive with a smile What is a typical day like for you at the company?Busy and running around stop to stop

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Co workers are very supportive

IT Personnel (Current Employee) - Calgary, AB - 8 November 2021

It's a nice place if you're looking for some job security but not too much advancement when it comes to career. I love the 4 day work week which gives more work/life balance.

Pros

4 day work week

Cons

none or very slow advancement

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Insights into City of Calgary

Based on 109 survey responses

What people like

Ability to meet personal goals
Clear sense of purpose
Fair pay for job

Controlling, do as I say, and there could be a promotion, if you fit in. (Not based on work ethics)

Electrical Journeyman (Former Employee) - Electrical Inspector - 3 November 2021

8 years lost, being part of a chain gang for 8 years. Real freedom starts when you Break free of their control. The good: every 2 weeks you get Friday off, payday is regular, parking was supplied if you had seniority, nice vehicles to drive, work duties was assessed to your ability, safety was a high priority and work mates where easy going, fun at times.

Pros

Check comes every 2 weeks.

Cons

If you do not fit in, work and social will definitely suck.

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Good working environment

Corporate Environmental Specialist (Former Employee) - Calgary, AB - 3 November 2021

The City of Calgary is a nice place to work. Competitive salary, and reasonable work hours. The union is a bit ridiculous and heavily favors the tenured.

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This employer ruins good people.

Heavy Equipment Technician (Current Employee) - Calgary, AB - 30 October 2021

Poor wage compared to real world. Pension is constantly increasing in cost and decreasing in value. Follow collective agreements, safety, code of conduct and policies when it suits them, otherwise they look the other way. Management has too many layers and considers the fundamental reason of existence (provide service to citizens) a nuisance to their “projects”.

Pros

Compressed work week (if you can get it)

Cons

Safety perceived, but not achieved. Zero management accountability

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Very Disappointed. Below Average Benefits. Very Hierarchical and micromanagement. You can do better

Human Resources (Current Employee) - Calgary, AB - 24 October 2021

Everyone wants to work for the City but don't be fooled. They oversell the benefits but are not competitive at all. If they want to build a great City they should start with their own organization. There is very little diversity at non-elected senior levels. Policies are outdated and focus on controlling what can go wrong and giving the minimal required versus assuming the best in people. No paid sick days for the first 3 months, then only 90% pay if you are sick (even for exempt positions), low end of the scale for vacation and have to wait until the next calendar year to get your accrued vacation. Working from home is a non-starter because management doesn't trust that employees are working.Senior leaders think they are smarter than everyone else and give very little autonomy. You are told what to do--ideas, work, and policies flow from the top down. Managers and above think and say they are better than people below them doing the work. Leaders take no accountability. blame others, and look for mistakes to point out leading to low collaboration and fear.Processes and technology are out dated and instead of focusing on a great employee experience leaders and HR want to micromanage, assume you will take advantage of the system, and track everything you do with constant reminders that IT is tracking activity on computers.

Pros

Work Life Balance, Little risk of being fired after probationary period

Cons

No paid sick days for first 3 months, no vacation days within the first year, No autonomy., No flexibility, hierarchical, lead with fear

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Great Employer

Lawyer (Former Employee) - Calgary, AB - 8 September 2021

They say they care about their employees and they mean it. Very supportive group while I was there. I’m happy that I had the chance to work there - it was an excellent place to learn and grow as a professional.

Pros

Excellent people, interesting work, very collaborative and a sense we are all on the same team

Cons

None that I can think of.

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If you want a life, its great

Waste and Recycling (Current Employee) - Calgary, AB - 31 July 2021

Stay outta the drama. Politics. Gossip. Go to work. Do your job. Mind your business. Good jobs at the city. You sometimes work alone. Can do what you please as long as work is completed.

Pros

4 day work week. 9.5 hours. No micro managing.

Cons

Drama. Gossip. Rumors. Favoritism.

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Toxic environment

Operator (Former Employee) - Calgary, AB - 21 July 2021

Very toxic work environment. So many levels of unnecessary management. Reckless spending. Management clueless as to what was going on around them..

Pros

Pay

Cons

Management

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if work place has a tennis tabe that can let staff and children have fun and exercise.

Supervisor/daycare (Former Employee) - Summikids and safeway - 8 July 2021

in my opinion, there are several ways can make a company developing successfully. First, the ower has to hire right person. all staff has to be honest, talent, and hard worker. Secontly, the ower respect staff, pay staff fairlly. For daycare,the ower and all the teacher have to respect family and love all the children, especially, give the children excellent traning and care.

Pros

the ower can offer free lunch to staff that would make all of staff happy, but it is not very important.

Cons

If the ower pay for it that is OK.

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Jobs at City of Calgary

Information and Records Management Technician

Calgary, AB

3 days ago

Parking Patrol & Investigation Officer

Calgary, AB

2 days ago

Community Social Worker - AMENDMENT

Good work place

Driver/Operator (Former Employee) - Bearspaw dam district n2 - 21 May 2021

Working in roads is great, the people it's easy going, job isn't hard and you always have 3 days to enjoy your spare time....OF COURSE if you CAN AFFORD to leave with only 38 hrs at week...something as big as the city and they can't figure it out why people do quit... I'm so sorry i have to choose to leave this place..but they do not pay enough to substain a leaving..so much that 85% of people have a second job or " cash job" , what would be the benefit of having some spare time if then we have to waste that time working elsewhere for a leaving ??

Pros

Best work and good people

Cons

Bad pay

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Good place

Project Lead/Project Manager (Former Employee) - Calgary, AB - 22 April 2021

Good place.Lot to learn.DiversifiedInclusionSlow & steadyGovernment regulations and policies.Structured.Remote some times.Travel within the city.

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Just a great place to work as a lifeguard/ swim instructor

Swim instructor (Former Employee) - Calgary, AB - 20 April 2021

Everyone there is very nice and supportive. If you ever have any questions there is always someone there that can help you out. However, the job can be a little stress if you don't know your basics or don't do well in emergency situations.

Pros

free access to all facilities if lifeguard.

Cons

Can get pretty tense if something goes wrong at the facility.

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Range of opportunities

Community Peace Officer (Current Employee) - City Of Calgary - 14 April 2021

So many options once you are employed Great benefits All supplies and uniforms providedInterview is by at least two peopleCheck Calgary.ca for Interview tips and Guidelines.

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Gratifying work, top-heavy

Web Strategist (Former Employee) - Calgary, AB - 7 April 2021

Benefits and pay are fair and there’s a health and wellness program. I enjoy the work as you can see direct positive impacts in the community. There are many layers of management with leads, coordinators, managers. It’s extremely stressful to have work constantly downloaded through attrition and departmental business changes. There’s a lack of accountability and change impact review as well as out of touch upper management.

Pros

Benefits and decent pay

Cons

Problematic management

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Positive work culture

Recreation Programmer (Former Employee) - various recreation location - 1 April 2021

Staff and Managers are supportive and understanding. It is a fast pace job with many departments and programs so, need to take time and meet people and learn about their positions.

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Wonderful work place

Interior Designer (Former Employee) - Calgary, AB - 13 March 2021

Great management. Good team atmosphere. Lots of opportunities for growth and advancement. I felt they invested in me personally and professionally and was rewarded fairly for my hard work.

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Some good years

Business Analyst (Former Employee) - Calgary, AB - 5 March 2021

Decent pay and work-life balance, but limited career advancement opportunities. Stigma of lazy environment. The farther from center the worse harassment and favoritism problems. Big words about commitment and values, but no second thought when it's time for lay offs. Satisfaction surveys are only collected in good times, and no exit polls for departing employees. Dysfunctional union that restricts flex work, caps salaries below market, and does not represent employee.

Pros

Annual salary increase, decent pension plan.

Cons

Questionable job security, no/weak bonuses, health & dental compensations not reviewed for ages, union spoiled many benefits.

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The workplace partnership trurly helped me become confident in what was expected of me in my rolls.

Maintenance Electritician (Former Employee) - Calgary, AB - 16 February 2021

Pleased to have the opertinity to apply myself, learm and grown, meet knew challanges and build solid working relationships with skilled staff. Provid building ownership a level of compliance through contractor inspection and compliance checks. Understand the importance of keeping all facility dwg's current and availible

Pros

Serving municipality with my experoenced skill set snd leadership

Cons

Ño overtime, lay-off cycled with drastic price with WCS Commodity

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Good ambiance and enough money

Customer Service Clerk (Former Employee) - Calgary, AB - 6 February 2021

its a great place to work i wish im working there again. And very competitive wages and lots of benefits if you become a regular employee of the city

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Management in Transistion

Business Strategist - Technology (Former Employee) - Calgary, AB - 22 January 2021

Management Transition makes it difficult to fairly assess the Business Unit. Definitely silos at the department level and above. numerous business units solving the same business problems in their own manner without requesting or adhering to corporate governance/guidance.

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