Latest news in Health benefits

How to streamline benefits plans during a merger or acquisition

When a company is undergoing a merger or acquisition, it’s important to maintain consistency regarding benefits plans and streamline the process as much as possible.…

  • By: Sadie Janes
  • December 13, 2024 December 12, 2024
  • 08:54

Q&A with Marriott Hotels of Canada’s Candice Li

The hospitality company’s pension and benefits manager discusses gen Z in the workforce, student debt repayment programs and family vacations. Q: What new programs or…

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Majority of North American employers linking employee productivity to total rewards strategy in 2025: survey

Three-quarters (75 per cent) of Canadian employers and 66 per cent of U.S. employers say employee productivity is a key focus for 2025, with most…

  • By: Staff
  • December 12, 2024 December 11, 2024
  • 09:00

Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

An article on the impact of Canadian pension income on federal and provincial tax revenues was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here…

  • By: Staff
  • December 6, 2024 December 5, 2024
  • 09:00
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How employers can support employee financial wellness during the holidays

With the return of the holiday shopping season, employees may be tempted to spend more than they planned, despite the rising cost in living. According…

Extendicare, Unifor agreements include multiple benefits gains

The union representing 1,750 employees at Extendicare’s long-term care facilities across Ontario has ratified multiple three-year collective agreements that include benefits gains. The agreements include…

  • By: Staff
  • December 4, 2024 December 3, 2024
  • 15:00

So long foosball, hello savings: How work perks are evolving amid the rising cost of living

The workplace programs, tools and supports that employees value have changed over the last four years, leading many employers to pause certain office perks, such…

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Global benefits costs expected to increase by 10.4% in 2025: survey

Global benefits costs are projected to increase by 10.4 per cent in 2025, according to a new survey by WTW. The survey, which polled nearly…

  • By: Staff
  • December 2, 2024 November 29, 2024
  • 09:00
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Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

An article on employees’ views of employer-sponsored benefits plans was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources,…

  • By: Staff
  • November 29, 2024 November 28, 2024
  • 09:00

Coverage of the 2024 Healthy Outcomes Conference

On Oct. 18 in Toronto, the 2024 Healthy Outcomes Conference brought together nearly 140 benefits plan sponsors, experts and other industry thought leaders to exchange…

2024 HOC: Modernizing group benefits for the workforce of the future

With Canada’s workforce in the midst of multiple significant demographic shifts, group benefits plans will need to evolve to meet the changing needs of workers,…

2024 HOC: Balancing employee support and drug plan sustainability

As plan sponsors contend with high utilization of their drug plans and a host of costly new drugs coming to market, a variety of cost-containment…

2024 HOC: How preventative health innovations could transform benefits plans

Plan sponsors are facing the perfect storm of rising benefits costs, a surge in chronic disease prevalence and fierce competition for top talent. All the…

2024 HOC: How plan sponsors can support employees with migraine

While migraine is a complex neurological condition that can significantly impact patients’ quality of life and ability to work, it’s also poorly understood and often…

2024 HOC: McCarthy Tétrault aims for ‘real cultural change’ with new well-being strategy

During the coronavirus pandemic, McCarthy Tétrault elevated its well-being program and made sure employees had access to the resources they needed. But within a couple…

2024 HOC: A look at the impact of continuous glucose monitoring on diabetes self-management

A significant share of Canadians with diabetes struggle to keep their glucose levels in check, a worrying trend given the growing prevalence of diabetes in…

2024 HOC: Panel: Optimizing well-being benefits to deliver equitable coverage for employees

PepsiCo Canada aims to ensure all employees have equitable coverage and access to resources by offering a competitive and flexible benefits program, as well as…

  • By: Sadie Janes
  • November 26, 2024 November 12, 2024
  • 07:51

Young Canadian employees continue to have lowest level of well-being: report

Canadians employees aged 20 to 29 continue to have the lowest general well-being, with a score of 46.3 out of 100, according to a new…

  • By: Staff
  • November 25, 2024 November 25, 2024
  • 15:00

Survey finds seven in 10 Canadian workers dissatisfied with their employer’s benefits plan

Seven in 10 (70 per cent) employees say they’re dissatisfied with their employer’s current benefits plan, according to a new survey by Robert Walters Canada.…

  • By: Staff
  • November 25, 2024 November 22, 2024
  • 09:00
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Claims for obesity, diabetes medications up in 2023: report

The percentage of claimants filing claims for obesity drugs increased by 43 per cent in 2023, according to a new report by GreenShield. The report,…

  • By: Staff
  • November 22, 2024 November 20, 2024
  • 09:00

Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

An article on how a national drug pooling program would impact employer-sponsored benefits plans was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are…

  • By: Staff
  • November 22, 2024 November 21, 2024
  • 09:00
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Canadian health benefits cost trend increasing to 7.4% in 2025: report

In Canada, the average health benefits cost trend for 2025 is estimated to be 7.4 per cent, up from five per cent in 2024, according…

  • By: Staff
  • November 20, 2024 November 19, 2024
  • 09:00

How would a national drug pooling program impact employer-sponsored benefits plans?

In light of the federal government developing a national pharmacare program, it’s important it considers the implementation of a national drug pooling program for private…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • November 19, 2024 November 18, 2024
  • 09:00
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Expert panel: How employers can support managers to effectively champion employee mental health

Most employees have experienced the powerful impact, whether positive or negative, that a manager can have on their work experience and overall well-being. As conversations…

Cancer treatments represented a third of medicines in clinical trials in 2023: report

Cancer treatments represented 33 per cent of medicines in all phases of clinical trials in 2023, followed by treatments for infectious diseases (13 per cent)…

  • By: Staff
  • November 15, 2024 November 14, 2024
  • 09:00