As a young entrepreneur with a booming general contracting business, Fares Elsabbagh received plenty of accolades as well as financial rewards for the hours he spent building his business. But the one that means most to him came this year, 15 years after he founded Ottawa General Contractors, along with Moe Abbas, Andrew Jabbour, Nick Karrandjas and Bryan Sim.
“I’ve had many accolades — Top 30 Under 30, Top 40 Under 40 — but getting a Best Place to Work designation was the most meaningful,” Elsabbagh says. “What was important to me was building a company that people enjoyed being at and that they were proud to work at, and that delivered a value proposition that clients actually saw the value in.” His company, a design-build firm boasting a team of 15 skilled carpenters and a total of 40 staff members, subcontracts to various trades to complete its award-winning renovations and new construction projects. “It takes daily care. You’ve got to water those flowers every day.”
What is your recruiting philosophy?
Elsabbagh’s approach to hiring is refreshingly simple: “If you’re smiling during an interview, you’re almost guaranteed the job. It stems from the idea that in construction we deal with so much conflict and so many disputes. I’ve always wanted to build a team of people who are collaborative and pleasant to work with and who will approach conflict with a positive attitude.”
Job openings
“We’re always looking for key talent and we’re always hiring,” Elsabbagh says. “Generally, it’s project management and sales — we call them project consultants.”
Vacation policy
Employees start with ten days of vacation and get an additional week after three years and another week after five years. Ottawa General Contractors is also flexible if staff members need to take some extra leave without pay. The company also shuts down for two weeks in December, and those days off don’t count as vacation.
Benefits
Ottawa General Contractors’ employees receive dental coverage, long-term care insurance, life insurance, long-term disability benefits and supplemental medical coverage, for themselves and their dependents.
Wellness initiatives
To promote well-being, the company provides ergonomic furniture, encourages movement through team-building events. It also offers flexible hours that allow staff to balance work and life, for example, allowing them to leave for appointments or their dependents’ appointments or events. It offers workshops in stress management, and managers learn how to support the emotional well-being of their team members.
Retirement savings
The company is looking at developing a profit-sharing program and a comprehensive retirement plan package.
Have fun!
“We do a lot of team-building activities,” Elsabbagh says. One such event was to take the entire team to an obstacle course in the country. Another was an archery day. During each excursion, professional coaching and training are provided to strengthen teamwork. Another highlight was filling two tables at the 40 Under 40 event, where long-time employees joined in to celebrate.The company also hosts healthy catered team lunches every two weeks.
Company career page
