Latest news in Absence management

B.C. introducing legislation for paid domestic, sexual violence leave

British Columbia is tabling legislation that would grant up to five days of paid leave for workers affected by domestic or sexual violence. The leave…

  • By: Staff
  • March 4, 2020 November 23, 2020
  • 09:45

Scotiabank expanding parental leave top-up, adding virtual health care

Scotiabank is expanding its maternity and parental leave top-up pay for Canadian employees and providing access to a virtual health-care program. Eligible employees will receive…

  • By: Staff
  • March 3, 2020 November 23, 2020
  • 09:15

Morneau Shepell selling benefits consulting business to Hub

Morneau Shepell Ltd. is selling its benefits consulting business to Hub International Ltd. The benefits component of Morneau Shepell’s consulting business, which represents about three…

  • By: Staff
  • March 2, 2020 November 23, 2020
  • 09:55

Sun Life facing proposed LTD benefits class-action lawsuit

A former federal government employee is launching a proposed $10-million class action lawsuit against Sun Life over how the insurer calculated cost-of-living increases on long-term disability benefits…

Insurers advised to change LTD practices affecting small employers

An Ontario group benefits advisor is calling on Canadian insurers to change a long-term disability practice that adversely affects employees at small companies. Dave Patriarche,…

Editorial: Hands off my massage benefits!

Since my last two editorials have targeted issues around pension plan design and retirement readiness, I’m balancing things out this month by turning my attention…

How can plan sponsors work out the kinks in paramedical coverage?

Historically, Epcor Utilities Inc. provided employees with $1,000 in annual coverage for each paramedical service, ranging from massage therapists, physiotherapists and chiropractors to speech therapists,…

Union representing CRA staff seeking more leave, flexibility ahead of strike votes

Union representing CRA staff seeking more leave, flexibility ahead of strike votes

Employees at the Canada Revenue Agency, represented by the Union of Taxation Employees, are set to hold strike votes throughout February as negotiations continue on wages and issues…

Flex working help employees manage mental well-being: survey

Flexibility on the job can go a long way to helping employees manage their mental well-being, according to a survey by FlexJobs. The survey, which polled…

  • By: Staff
  • February 11, 2020 November 23, 2020
  • 15:30
How should Canadian employers be responding to the coronavirus?

How should Canadian employers be responding to the coronavirus?

With three confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Canada, 40 potential cases under investigation and the World Health Organization declaring the virus an international public…

Conference coverage: 2019 Vancouver Mental Health Summit

Conference coverage: 2019 Vancouver Mental Health Summit

On Dec. 12, the 2019 Vancouver Mental Health Summit showcased ideas on how to approach mental health in the workplace, including how to remove the…

Considering how mental-health support, accommodation is changing

Considering how mental-health support, accommodation is changing

Sixty per cent of working Canadians have experienced a mental-health issue, an increase from 52 per cent in 2017, according to Sun Life’s 2019 barometer survey.…

A look at ROI benefits of employee mental-health programs

A look at ROI benefits of employee mental-health programs

Workplace mental-health programs can demonstrate a huge return on investment for an organization’s bottom line, as well as reducing absenteeism and presenteeism, said Nir Yahav,…

Stigma, coverage barriers preventing proper treatment of migraine

Stigma, coverage barriers preventing proper treatment of migraine

While 2.7 million Canadians suffer from migraine, the condition can be subdivided based on its frequency, said Dr. Esma Dilli, neurologist and clinical assistant professor…

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

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

While insomnia is a disorder, it’s just as commonly a symptom, which most people and physicians don’t grasp, said Dr. Atul Khullar, medical director at…

Employees’ parental leave has no effect on employer, colleagues: study

Employees’ parental leave has no effect on employer, colleagues: study

Employees’ parental leave has “no measurable effect” on their company’s profits, output or survival, nor does it have a negative impact on the well-being of those employees’…

CAMH releases workplace mental-health guide

CAMH releases workplace mental-health guide

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has released a guide advising companies on how they can support employees facing mental-health challenges. The guide, which…

Toronto city councillor pushing for better parental leave for politicians

Toronto city councillor pushing for better parental leave for politicians

Toronto city councillor and new father Joe Cressy would prefer to spend his entitled weeks of parental leave at home with his infant son. At the…

Younger Canadians more likely to want employer-provided virtual health care: survey

Younger Canadians more likely to want employer-provided virtual health care: survey

About three-quarters (72 per cent) of working Canadians said they’d perceive their employer in a more positive light if it offered virtual care or telemedicine,…

  • By: Staff
  • January 21, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:15
Morneau Shepell to test meditation headband in employee wellness programs

Morneau Shepell to test meditation headband in employee wellness programs

Morneau Shepell Ltd. is teaming up with Interaxon Inc. to test meditation-aid technology for use in workplace well-being programs. Interaxon makes the Muse meditation headband, a research-grade electroencephalography…

  • By: Staff
  • January 13, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:00
Saskatoon library workers’ new contract includes enhanced leave provisions

Saskatoon library workers’ new contract includes enhanced leave provisions

The union representing Saskatoon Public Library workers has ratified a tentative collective agreement that involves improved leave provisions and wage increases. The Canadian Union of Public Employees…

Mat leave returnees no longer facing reset of LTD pre-existing clause

Mat leave returnees no longer facing reset of LTD pre-existing clause

Major Canadian insurers are no longer resetting the long-term disability pre-existing condition clause for women whose benefits coverage lapsed during their maternity leave when they return…

Conference coverage: 2019 Toronto Mental Health Summit

Conference coverage: 2019 Toronto Mental Health Summit

On Nov. 29, the 2019 Toronto Mental Health Summit featured sessions on how employers can approach mental health in the workplace, including removing the stigma and…

A look at how internet-based CBT programs are evolving

A look at how internet-based CBT programs are evolving

Internet-based programs are the future of mental-health therapy, according to Peter Gove, the former innovation leader in health management at Green Shield Canada, speaking during a session…

Harnessing analytics, data to support employee mental health

Harnessing analytics, data to support employee mental health

Mental health is the third largest health spend in terms of benefits plan management, according to Derek Weir, manager of health benefit solutions at Medavie Blue…