Latest news in Absence management

How can employers support coronavirus long-haulers?

As the phenomenon of coronavirus long-haulers — individuals who display symptoms for months following infection — becomes more prominent amid the ongoing pandemic, plan sponsors…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • January 10, 2022 January 10, 2022
  • 09:00

Liberals eye easing access to maternity, parental leave in EI review: minister

The minister in charge of Canada’s federal social safety net for workers says the government is looking at removing rules that make it difficult for…

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Patagonia providing North American employees with paid time off this holiday season

Patagonia Inc. is giving all of its North American employees an additional week of paid time off this holiday season. The clothing retailer’s customer service…

  • By: Staff
  • December 22, 2021 December 22, 2021
  • 09:00

Just 27% of Canadians taking all allotted vacation time in 2021: survey

The percentage of Canadians taking all of their allotted vacation time increased to 27 per cent in 2021, compared to 2020 when 20 per cent said…

  • By: Staff
  • December 21, 2021 December 21, 2021
  • 09:00

Q&A with Hootsuite’s Paul Dhillon

Hootsuite Inc.’s director of total rewards talks benefits in a remote working environment, the four pillars of wellness and recharging through physical activity. Q: What…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • December 17, 2021 December 16, 2021
  • 08:49

Government open to amending paid sick days legislation for federally regulated workers

The government is open to amending legislation that would provide 10 days of paid sick leave for federally regulated workers. Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan acknowledged that…

Redbrick considering range of commuting benefits, perks as part of return-to-office planning

Commuting can be a pain point for some employees returning to the office, so a Victoria, B.C.-based software company is considering several ways to incentivize employees…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • December 15, 2021 December 15, 2021
  • 09:00

Pinterest expanding parental, fertility benefits offerings

Pinterest is expanding its parental and fertility benefits offerings, including the addition of two rounds of in vitro fertilization and egg freezing. The social media company’s…

  • By: Staff
  • December 13, 2021 December 10, 2021
  • 09:00

Coverage of the 2021 Mental Health Summit

Recognized as the leading and most well-known event in workplace mental health for more than 15 years, Benefits Canada‘s 2021 Mental Health Summit, which was…

2021 Mental Health Summit: The importance of self-management in employee mental health

Supporting employees’ mental health while teleworking will take on new importance as employers increasingly adjust their return-to-office plans to include some level of remote or…

2021 Mental Health Summit: A look at the lesser-known impact of diabetes distress

The World Health Organization has designated diabetes as the only non-viral epidemic and diabetes drugs continue to be ranked as the second highest cost category…

2021 Mental Health Summit: Pharmacogenetic testing success stories in mental-health treatment

Pharmacogenetic testing has become a popular addition to employee benefits packages, primarily because of its ability to inform personalized drug treatment, especially in mental health…

2021 Mental Health Summit: Rapid access, recovery and return to work with intensive outpatient programming

Approximately two in five Canadians live with a mental-health disorder and about eight million are struggling with non-prescriptive addiction. Medically managed intensive outpatient programming, or…

2021 Mental Health Summit: Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy a key mental-health strategy

Mental health is the leading cause of disability for Canadian employers of all types, sectors and sizes, with 70 per cent of employers saying expanding…

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2021 Mental Health Summit: Expanding the mental-health toolkit with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy

Mental health is a major pandemic in and of itself, with surveys showing a 300 per cent increase in people reporting symptoms of anxiety and…

2021 Mental Health Summit: A look at one employee’s struggle with mental health during the pandemic

When Nasreen, a 32-year-old marketing manager at a Toronto firm, started to suffer from anxiety and depression related to her isolation during the coronavirus pandemic,…

Employees seeking pet-friendly workplaces, benefits: survey

More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of U.S. employees said they want their employer to offer paid leave after adopting a new pet, according to…

  • By: Staff
  • December 8, 2021 December 8, 2021
  • 15:00
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KPMG supporting workplace diversity, inclusivity with gender affirmation policy

KPMG in Canada is supporting its transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse employees with a new gender affirmation policy. Stephanie Braid, director of inclusion, diversity and equity…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • December 7, 2021 December 6, 2021
  • 09:00
ACPM calling on feds to streamline pension overpayment recovery

Liberals introducing legislation on paid sick days for federally regulated employees

The federal Liberal Party is following through on an election campaign promise by introducing legislation that would provide 10 paid sick days per year to…

  • By: Staff
  • November 30, 2021 November 30, 2021
  • 15:00
Stigma, coverage barriers preventing proper treatment of migraine

Webinar coverage: How employers can support employees with migraine

Migraine affects 12 to 15 per cent of Canadians, said Dr. Elizabeth Leroux, a Montreal-based neurologist, president of the Canadian Headache Society and chair of…

Webinar coverage: How can employers better support working caregivers?

Many employees are engaged in a challenging “juggling act,” with about one in four Canadians aged 15 and older providing ongoing care to a family…

38% of plan sponsors planning to update benefits plan design in 2021: survey

More than a third (38 per cent) of plan sponsors are planning to update their benefits plan design by the end of this year, on…

  • By: Staff
  • November 3, 2021 November 3, 2021
  • 09:00
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Remote working helping employees with chronic conditions miss less work: survey

The shift to remote working due to the coronavirus pandemic is helping 77 per cent of employees with chronic conditions and/or chronic pain miss less…

  • By: Staff
  • November 1, 2021 October 27, 2021
  • 09:00
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Award finalists discuss mental health, enhanced communications amid pandemic

More than 19 months into the coronavirus pandemic, employers are focusing on enhanced mental-health offerings and streamlined communications for their benefits and pension plans. During a…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • November 1, 2021 October 29, 2021
  • 09:00

Majority of HR leaders believe benefits, retirement offerings meeting needs of all: survey

The majority of human resources professionals said they believe their organizations’ current benefits and retirement offerings are meeting the needs of a diverse workforce, according to…

  • By: Staff
  • October 29, 2021 October 29, 2021
  • 09:00