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Should employers offer paid menstrual leave?

On the first day of her period, Amy Saunders says she’s often stuck in bed with a hot water bottle, downing painkillers and drinking tea.…

Shopify wins award for ‘digital by design’ employee health, wellness strategy

Shopify Inc. was awarded for its digital-first employee health and wellness strategy at Benefits Canada‘s 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 14. The technology company won the…

Editorial: Looking back — and ahead — in an unprecedented year

Editorial: Chronic disease, mental health in spotlight as pandemic surges on

With the Delta variant leading the coronavirus pandemic in a renewed surge, employers continue to have a surplus of challenges, regardless of whether or not…

New study calling on permanent reforms to Canada’s sickness, caregiving leaves

With the coronavirus pandemic exposing gaps in sickness and caregiving leave provisions across Canada, the Institute for Research on Public Policy is calling for permanent…

  • By: Staff
  • October 8, 2021 October 8, 2021
  • 15:00

More Canadian employers topping up maternity leave benefits than parental leave benefits: survey

While more than half (58 per cent) of Canadian employers provide top-up pay for maternity leave benefits, just 33 per cent offer top-ups for parental…

  • By: Staff
  • October 7, 2021 October 7, 2021
  • 09:00

Pandemic putting absence management in spotlight for majority of U.S. employers: survey

A majority (75 per cent) of U.S. organizations said the coronavirus pandemic has influenced how they approach absence management as a whole, according to a…

  • By: Staff
  • September 24, 2021 September 24, 2021
  • 09:00

Germany ending coronavirus quarantine sick pay for unvaccinated

Germany is stopping sick pay for unvaccinated people who have to go into quarantine because of the coronavirus. Previously, Germans could claim for income lost due…

Head to head: Should provincial governments require employers to provide minimum paid sick leave?

Eighteen months into the coronavirus pandemic and counting, one of its hottest topics is still up for debate. Jim Stanford, economist and director of the…

A look at current provincial policies on bereavement leave

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has made legislated bereavement leave policies top of mind for both employers and employees. As of Sept. 15, at least one…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • September 16, 2021 September 16, 2021
  • 09:00
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Ontario extending paid sick leave program until end of 2021

Ontario is extending a temporary paid sick leave program for workers until the end of this year. Labour Minister Monte McNaughton announced that the coronavirus pandemic…

Majority of employers are planning return to workplace this year, finds survey

More than half (54 per cent) of attendees to Benefits Canada‘s virtual return-to-work webinar on Aug. 12 said they’re planning a phased return to the…

  • By: Staff
  • September 1, 2021 August 31, 2021
  • 09:00
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Border agency employees ending strike after retirement, paid leave wins

The union president for the Canadian Border Services Agency employees is “relieved” after reaching a new tentative agreement that includes retirement benefits and new paid…

Vale mine workers ending strike after winning pension, benefits increases

The first strike at Vale Canada in more than a decade is drawing to a close after unionized workers at the Sudbury, Ont., mine ratified a collective…

Bumble rolls out paid leave for global employees

Bumble Inc. is introducing paid leave and a biannual company-wide week off for its global employees. The dating app, which has offices in Russia, Spain,…

  • By: Staff
  • August 4, 2021 August 4, 2021
  • 15:00

Ontario’s paid sick leave program costing less than expected

Ontario’s temporary paid sick leave program is receiving less uptake than initially expected. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Friday that, as of July 21, a…

  • By: Staff
  • July 26, 2021 July 26, 2021
  • 09:00

Unifor, Chartwell continuing contract negotiations over sick days, bereavement leave

Contract negotiations are continuing between Chartwell Master Care and the union representing employees at an Ottawa-area retirement home, after the employer proposed cuts to paid…

43% of Canadians fear contracting coronavirus when they return to office: survey

Although vaccinations have been ramping up across the country, almost half (46 per cent) of Canadians who are working from home are anxious about contracting…

  • By: Staff
  • July 6, 2021 July 5, 2021
  • 09:00

Meet the judges of the 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards

With the 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards’ nomination process drawing to a close in a couple of weeks, Benefits Canada is pleased to announce this year’s…

  • By: Staff
  • June 25, 2021 June 24, 2021
  • 09:00
Who are the winners of the inaugural Pension Leadership Awards?

Deadline extended for 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards

Benefits Canada is extending the deadline for entering the 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards to Wednesday, July 7. The annual awards, which will be held virtually on Oct. 14,…

  • By: Staff
  • June 21, 2021 June 21, 2021
  • 08:45

Investing in iCBT offerings can pay off for employers

As many employees struggle with mental-health issues during these tumultuous times, internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy is one tool that may help them bounce back. Employers…

Coverage of the 2021 Benefits & Pension Summit

On May 18 and 19, Benefits Canada hosted the 2021 Benefits & Pension Summit, a virtual event bringing together both group benefits plans and defined contribution pension…

  • June 4, 2021 June 4, 2021
  • 09:15

2021 BPS coverage: How PCL is balancing benefits, pension decisions during coronavirus

With the majority of PCL Construction Ltd.’s workforce continuing to work at its Canada-wide job sites and offices throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the organization’s decisions…

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2021 BPS coverage: Accident prevention may reduce benefits costs, absenteeism

With auto-related accidents contributing to absenteeism and lost workplace productivity, accident prevention is a key component of corporate wellness, said Fernand Vartanian, general counsel and head…

Canadian employers failing mothers returning from parental leave: report

The vast majority (95 per cent) of Canadian working mothers said they didn’t receive any formal support from their employer during their maternity leave transition,…

  • By: Staff
  • May 27, 2021 May 26, 2021
  • 08:45

2021 BPS coverage: Drug, disability claims stabilizing but pandemic’s impact lingers

While the rates of drug and disability claims are returning to their pre-pandemic levels, employers are still contending with the impact of the coronavirus crisis…