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Haleo helping benefits plan members overcome insomnia

Embarking on a workplace chronic illness or mental-health strategy is incomplete without factoring in sleep, said Bradley Smith, chief executive officer of Haleo Clinic, during…

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Morneau Shepell’s digital mental-health service easing pandemic stress

As Canadians face worsening overall mental health and heightened levels of stress during the coronavirus pandemic, internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy can be a powerful tool…

Employee off-hours conduct during coronavirus pandemic leading to dismissals

Employee off-hours conduct during coronavirus pandemic leading to dismissals

One year ago, hosting a pizza party with co-workers or showing up to work with stomach-bug symptoms were unthinkable in terms of fireable offences. But…

22% of Canadian employers would adjust pay of remote staff who move: survey

22% of Canadian employers would adjust pay of remote staff who move: survey

More than one-fifth (22 per cent) of Canadian companies say they’ll adjust the pay of remote workers who move to a different location, according to…

Calls for Ontario to reinstate paid sick leave intensify amid lockdown

Calls for Ontario to reinstate paid sick leave intensify amid lockdown

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is continuing to feel heat from opposition politicians calling for the provincial government to reinstate paid sick days on the heels…

Half of Canadians taking less time off in December due to pandemic: survey

Half of Canadians taking less time off in December due to pandemic: survey

Nearly half of working Canadians (49 per cent) will be taking less or no vacation time this December as a result of the ongoing coronavirus…

  • By: Staff
  • December 18, 2020 April 23, 2021
  • 09:02
Co-ordinated treatment plan required to get staff with depression back to work

Co-ordinated treatment plan required to get staff with depression back to work

With depression rapidly becoming the primary reason for workplace impairment and disability claims, it’s important to understand the role work plays in maintaining good health.…

  • By: Sonya Felix
  • November 27, 2020 November 27, 2020
  • 07:51
Scotiabank to allow Canadian staff to buy more personal days

Scotiabank to allow Canadian staff to buy more personal days

Scotiabank is introducing a program that will allow benefits-eligible Canadian employees to purchase up to five additional personal days. The program is effective April 1, 2021,…

Five lessons for employers to apply to the pandemic’s second wave

Five lessons for employers to apply to the pandemic’s second wave

As coronavirus cases rise across the country and some return-to-work plans become return-to-home plans, many employers are wondering how to help their employees adapt once again…

Group health plan costs expected to rise in 2021: report

Group health plan costs expected to rise in 2021: report

The costs of employer-provided health plans in Canada are expected to rise seven per cent next year, outpacing general inflation by more than five per cent,…

  • By: Staff
  • October 29, 2020 October 29, 2020
  • 15:15
SSQ wins wellness pioneer award for 15-year well-being focus

SSQ wins wellness pioneer award for 15-year well-being focus

Highlighting a long-standing commitment to the health of its employees, SSQ Life Insurance Co. was awarded the Sanofi Canada Wellness Pioneer Award at Benefits Canada‘s…

Scotiabank awarded for adapting benefits in face of coronavirus

Scotiabank awarded for adapting benefits in face of coronavirus

Scotiabank secured its second win at Benefits Canada‘s 2020 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 16 for adapting its existing benefits and introducing new resources to…

Leadership-driven mental-health strategy nets award for Scotiabank

Leadership-driven mental-health strategy nets award for Scotiabank

At Benefits Canada‘s 2020 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 16, Scotiabank was recognized for a mental-health strategy that starts at the top of the organization and focuses…

NDP support for throne speech contingent on paid sick leave

New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh said his party will support last week’s throne speech on the condition that more Canadians be granted access to…

  • By: Staff
  • September 28, 2020 November 16, 2020
  • 09:30

Employers prioritizing support for working parents but current policies not effective: survey

Images of parents trying to shush their kids during work Zoom meetings are now as commonplace as, well, Zoom meetings. With many people six months into working from…

  • By: Staff
  • September 25, 2020 November 16, 2020
  • 08:45

EAP counselling more effective on issues of presenteeism than other workplace problems: survey

Presenteeism is the No. 1 issue for employers in terms of its negative impact on the workforce and the extent to which is can be…

  • By: Staff
  • September 18, 2020 November 17, 2020
  • 15:30

Pandemic blurring work-life lines a recipe for employee burnout

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, technology was blurring the lines between work and home life. An unhealthy attachment to our mobile phones made it easy…

  • September 15, 2020 February 5, 2021
  • 08:45

How can employers support staff with children during pandemic schooling?

When the coronavirus pandemic hit, Scotiabank kicked the expansion of its existing childcare offering for employees into high gear. “Given the bank has announced that anyone…

Plan Sponsor Week: Globally mobile workers need extra help dealing with pandemic stress

Globally mobile employees may be feeling more discouragement, burnout and stress during the coronavirus pandemic compared to their domestic peers. Indeed, outside of the crisis,…

What tools can employers use to address employees’ sleep concerns?

Plan Sponsor Week: Sleep-specific CBT valuable add to benefits plans

Plan members living with insomnia or sleep problems could benefit from sleep-specific cognitive behavioural therapy programs accessible through their benefits plans. “One of the key…

Empire Life adding telemedicine to group benefits plans

The Empire Life Insurance Co. is adding telemedicine services to its group benefits plans. Beginning Sept. 1, 2020, all employees whose plan sponsors offer Empire…

  • By: Staff
  • August 26, 2020 November 23, 2020
  • 15:00
Successful return-to-work processes more essential during coronavirus

Successful return-to-work processes more essential during coronavirus

For Chantelle Tadman, returning to work after maternity leave was more eventful than she’d hoped it would be. Between needing to take disability leave during…

Webinar: Overall health key to employee well-being during, after pandemic

In this unprecedented time, it’s more evident the physical, psychological and financial components of health are all interconnected, said Charmaine Alexander, senior disability management advisor…

Plan sponsors worried about drug, dental plan sustainability: Sanofi survey

Most (79 per cent) plan sponsors said they have at least one major concern about their health benefits plan, with this increasing to 89 per…

  • By: Staff
  • July 6, 2020 November 23, 2020
  • 09:00

Webinar: Expanding access to high-quality health care with telemedicine

Health and productivity is affected by a lack of access to care, according to Dr. Hanif Jamal, Canadian medical director at Teledoc Health, during a webinar…