In the 30 years since Symcor’s inception, it has brought in many employees with diverse ages, backgrounds, cultures and experiences.
“We want to make sure that, with a workforce as diverse as ours, to have programs that are inclusive, meaningful, relevant and supportive,” said Rachel Wong, the organization’s vice-president of total rewards and human resources technology, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2026 Chronic Disease at Work conference.
Over the past five years, Symcor has intentionally evolved its wellness program to adopt a more holistic approach to well-being, with employee feedback its biggest driver, she said.
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Some of the initiatives include: increasing maximums for paramedical services, vision care and dental; introducing gender-affirming care and fertility treatment; and modernizing well-being by adding virtual care for employees and their families, as well as their pets.
An annual benefits survey, day-to-day conversations with employees and reviews of claims status demonstrate that many of Symcor’s employees are dealing with chronic diseases, noted Wong. Two of the top three conditions are chronic — diabetes and cancer, a trend the organization has seen year over year.
“We have a philosophy like traffic lights,” she said, noting the goal is to keep employees in a green zone by giving them tools, support and resources to prevent issues from entering the yellow and red zones.
“Once someone reaches the yellow and red zone, we still have support for them. We want to make sure we can help them get better, but we also know that level of intervention required will be much greater and longer.”
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Symcor launched a new chronic disease management program in 2025 with a focus on preventative care. Some resources it’s providing to employees are workshops on diabetes and cardiovascular health, bringing clinical pharmacists into the workplace and partnering with a pharmacy that specializes in chronic disease management so employees can receive personalized medical supports.
Also, the organization has partnered with a lab to pilot onsite health clinics in a few Symcor locations — an initiative it’s looking to expand in the future. In this clinic, a health professional draws blood and within a day employees receive their results, providing them with insights into their blood sugar levels, an important indicator for preventing and managing diabetes.
“We’re not only making the conditions easier to manage, but we’re making it less expensive and less disruptive for both the employee and the employer.”
Symcor plans to continue to empower employees in early detection screenings and focus preventative care, noted Wong, balancing plan affordability while also providing meaningful access.
Read more coverage of the 2026 Chronic Disease at Work conference.