The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s win in the Drug/Benefits Plan Innovation category at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards can be attributed to innovation, of course, but also generosity.
According to one judge, the organization’s benefits program is one of the most generous they’ve seen. It includes: 100 per cent coverage on drugs, with no co-pay or annual maximum; fertility drug coverage and reimbursement for private duty nursing; and unlimited mental-health services and preventative dental care for employees and their dependants.
Following the award win, Rolando Lopez (pictured left), the organization’s vice-president of talent acquisition, total rewards and human resources business services, called it validation of the organization’s tireless efforts to put employee wellness first and support them in bringing their whole selves to work.
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The WSIB introduced the generous suite of benefits after listening to what its employees needed and what was most important to them, he added. “Putting together things like this when you’re a broader public sector [organization], it’s a lot of courage and leadership to make these kinds of decisions. So it was us listening and our leaders responding. That’s what really drives this.”
Starting in 2024, the organization eliminated the waiting period for benefits coverage, so employees — and their dependants — can receive comprehensive coverage from their first day of work. Also, there are no premium costs for eligible employees. “WSIB’s drug and benefits plan is designed to eliminate barriers, ensure immediate access to care and promote long-term well-being,” stated the submission.
“We want to prioritize accessibility, flexibility, equity, inclusiveness and closing the gap of unmet needs,” added Rose Lo (pictured right), the organization’s director of total rewards.
Looking more widely, the WSIB provides 12 paid wellness days annually, plus six additional wellness/vacation days for people leaders. “The integration of wellness days recognizes that prevention and recovery aren’t limited to medical visits,” said the entry. “Mental rest and self-care are equally valued.”
The organization’s wellness supports also includes mental-health training, health coaching, peer support, fitness incentive tracking, stretch breaks, virtual yoga and pilates classes and other mental and physical wellness programs. The FIT! Program provides annual financial rewards — ranging from $50 to $350, paid through payroll as a taxable benefits — based on fitness results. It’s designed to measure an employee’s level of fitness based on three areas: cardiovascular health, strength and flexibility.
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One of the judges also highlighted the level and type of metrics provided in the WSIB’s submission. For example, the organization has measured engagement through an all-employee survey since 2017, asking 52 questions across 13 factors. In 2024, its participation rate was 75 per cent, its engagement index was 79 per cent and its diversity and inclusion index is 68 per cent.
One of the purposes of the survey is to identify focus areas that will have the largest impact on employee experience, with people leaders creating action plans aligned to these focus areas, according to the award entry. Following the 2024 survey, 91 per cent of eligible leaders entered action plans for 2025, compared to 47 per cent in 2024. As well, the number of action plans entered increased from 443 in 2024 to 654 this year.
Tune in to Benefits Canada to learn more about the 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards winners in the coming days.