Latest news in Health/wellness

Mental-health related absence, disability still major challenges for Canadian employers: survey

Mental-health related absence, disability still major challenges for Canadian employers: survey

The majority of Canadian employers intend to prioritize the improvement of workplace mental health over the next three years to help manage ballooning costs, according…

  • By: Staff
  • October 17, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 16:20
Focus on preventative measures in fight against chronic disease

Focus on preventative measures in fight against chronic disease

To combat the rise in chronic disease rates and the subsequent impact on the health-care system and benefits costs, there’s been a shift in thinking…

Sleep disorders: Why they should be keeping employers up at night

Sleep disorders: Why they should be keeping employers up at night

Employers looking to enhance productivity could consider introducing a new program for workers that would encourage them to take a nap each day. The idea…

Millennials, managers more likely to report mental-health struggles

Millennials, managers more likely to report mental-health struggles

Millennial workers are more likely than their older colleagues to report having experienced mental illness, according to a new survey commissioned by the Great-West Life…

Sounding Board: Management style, employee expectations key to supporting mental health

Sounding Board: Management style, employee expectations key to supporting mental health

Workplace mental health is a priority issue. Currently, one in four Canadians leave work due to anxiety, stress and depression. The Canadian Mental Health Commission…

Looking to create a mental-health strategy? Ask your employees first

Looking to create a mental-health strategy? Ask your employees first

How does an employer go about creating a mental-health strategy? In the case of Ontario’s Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, it brought its own employees…

Four considerations for employers around disability management

Four considerations for employers around disability management

When illness or disability strikes an employee, it can disrupt the whole team. It’s important for every employer to put an integrated structure and sound…

New workplace wellness app combines health education, social recognition

New workplace wellness app combines health education, social recognition

Quebec-based Rideau Recognition Inc. is rolling out a 30-day workplace health challenge for employers that use its new workplace wellness and health education app. The…

  • By: Staff
  • September 27, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 20:54
Healthy lifestyle changes could save economy $7B over five years, suggests prof

Healthy lifestyle changes could save economy $7B over five years, suggests prof

BestLifeRewarded Innovations Inc. has launched a research project aimed at demonstrating how small changes in behaviour could make a significant difference in both employee health…

  • By: Alice Chen
  • September 25, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:15
Employers urged to leverage rising use of health apps for wellness programs

Employers urged to leverage rising use of health apps for wellness programs

Two-thirds of Canadians are tracking their health and well-being using either a mobile app or smart device, according to new research by Canada Health Infoway. The…

Aligning mental-health strategies to business values key to program’s success

Aligning mental-health strategies to business values key to program’s success

Aligning a mental-health strategy with an organization’s business values is key to ensuring the program has a long-term impact on employees and the company, according…

Have your say: Should benefits plans provide online CBT?

Have your say: Should benefits plans provide online CBT?

With some Canadians still reluctant to talk about mental-health issues, should employers include internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy as a way to facilitate access to psychological…

Sounding Board: How to support millennials’ growing use of mental-health services

Sounding Board: How to support millennials’ growing use of mental-health services

In the past, quotes for psychology services in an employee benefits plan were nominal, especially compared to other paramedical benefits, such as massage therapy. However,…

Researcher takes aim at celebrity health fads, ‘massive wellness industry’

Researcher takes aim at celebrity health fads, ‘massive wellness industry’

As society tries to figure out how to improve health outcomes, the rise of celebrity culture and the power of social media aren’t helping, a…

Assessing the impact of online therapy as digital health tools proliferate

Assessing the impact of online therapy as digital health tools proliferate

As employees continue to seek new ways of accessing and using their benefits plans, a new study is aiming to further the development of one…

Have your say: Should employers welcome pets to the workplace?

Have your say: Should employers welcome pets to the workplace?

Would a furry friend sitting under a colleague’s desk ease stress or cause distraction? That’s just one of many questions employers have to consider when…

The debate over standing desks: Variety key to maximizing health, productivity benefits

The debate over standing desks: Variety key to maximizing health, productivity benefits

The debate over standup desks has been raging since a recent study found negative health impacts for employees who stand all day. But what about…

Helping employees transition into the stress of fall

Helping employees transition into the stress of fall

The season is changing as the long, carefree, lazy days of summer are wrapping up. Everyone is preparing for a change in weather, as well…

  • September 6, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 07:00
Have your say: Is it realistic for employers to offer a five-hour workday?

Have your say: Is it realistic for employers to offer a five-hour workday?

Workplace flexibility has become a popular perk in recent years as more and more employees want control over their schedules and seek a greater work-life…

  • By: Staff
  • September 5, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 14:00
Can points-powered apps help employers boost wellness programs?

Can points-powered apps help employers boost wellness programs?

Hey Dan, wanna walk down to the boardwalk again?” It’s a muggy June night in New Liskeard, Ont., where my boyfriend is working for the…

Workplace Benefits Awards finalists announced

Workplace Benefits Awards finalists announced

Benefits Canada is pleased to announce the list of finalists for the 2017 Workplace Benefits Awards. The finalists will find out who won at a luncheon on…

  • By: Staff
  • September 5, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:57
Why you should hire a wellness champion

Why you should hire a wellness champion

What if you could play childhood games at work and be a better employee because of it? Nicole Cairns, health and wellness director at Thorpe…

Healthy Outcomes: Taking action to achieve better health outcomes

Healthy Outcomes: Taking action to achieve better health outcomes

At Benefits Canada’s 2017 Healthy Outcomes conference in June, insurers, providers and plan sponsors discussed how to promote healthy behaviours and reduce chronic disease while…

Healthy Outcomes: Prediabetes among biggest concerns for employee health

Healthy Outcomes: Prediabetes among biggest concerns for employee health

With four out of five Canadians having at least one modifiable risk for a chronic disease, organizations need to place the same importance and resources…

Healthy Outcomes: Low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy touted as alternative to address depression

Healthy Outcomes: Low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy touted as alternative to address depression

Should antidepressants be the first course of treatment for mild to moderate depression? Not necessarily, said Peter Gove, innovation leader for health management at Green…