Habanero Consulting

Number of employees: 60
Head office: Vancouver
Quote: “Habanero is one of the most open companies I have ever worked for. I could approach anyone in the company and be honest with them without retribution”

If my company were a celebrity, it would be: HUGH JACKMAN
“Smart, capable and equally comfortable with being strong (Wolverine) and sensitive (he also does Broadway musicals – c’mon!). Oh, and hot”

Habanero president Steven Fitzgerald, a longtime bike commuter, encourages staff to follow his heart-healthy and environmentally friendly lead. Employees of the IT consulting business are given an annual $800 credit for such fitness costs as bike locker fees and personal training. They are also urged to give back to the community by volunteering, on company time, during Habanero’s Day of Caring. On one such day, staff painted a wall for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Habanero, which has an open-book policy regarding its finances, was forced to conduct layoffs this year due to the economic crisis. Fitzgerald held a frank discussion about the cuts with the workers, which was described by one survey respondent as notably compassionate: “I’m pretty sure half of the room was teary-eyed, including Mr. Fitzgerald. This goes to show how close the whole company is and how much we all love working here. It’s like working for a large family, only everyone gets along.”