Latest news in Health/wellness

Healthy Outcomes: A look at chronic disease among younger Canadians

Healthy Outcomes: A look at chronic disease among younger Canadians

While Canada is facing the health implications of an aging population, younger people are a significant concern as well. “For the first time, three out…

Healthy Outcomes: Partnerships key to achieving a healthier workforce

Healthy Outcomes: Partnerships key to achieving a healthier workforce

During the Healthy Outcomes conference in June, a panel of health and wellness leaders discussed some of the small steps their organizations are taking to…

Healthy Outcomes: Linking drug plans to employee health

Healthy Outcomes: Linking drug plans to employee health

During the Healthy Outcomes conference in June, participants discussed ways to better understand the impact of drug plan offerings on employee health. Four groups of…

Should employers cover athletic therapy?

Should employers cover athletic therapy?

With employers already facing enough cost pressures around their benefits plans, adding additional coverage for paramedical services may be a daunting prospect. But with employees…

Sun Life to look at effectiveness of pharmacogenetics on plan members

Sun Life to look at effectiveness of pharmacogenetics on plan members

Sun Life Financial will be offering plan members on short- and long-term disability leave for depression or anxiety the chance to take part in a…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • August 25, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:30
Mental-health first aid training targets rising disability concerns in electricity sector

Mental-health first aid training targets rising disability concerns in electricity sector

With mental health as an aspect of workplace disability on the rise in the electricity sector, Electricity Human Resources Canada has introduced an online portal…

New DC-style benefits platform available to employers, advisors

New DC-style benefits platform available to employers, advisors

Benecaid Health Benefits Solutions Inc. is introducing a new online health benefits platform this month. The online app, Honeybee, allows employers to offer their health…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • August 21, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:30
25% of Canadian employees quit work due to stress: survey

25% of Canadian employees quit work due to stress: survey

While many employers promote work-life balance, 25 per cent of Canadians have left a job due to stress and 17 per cent have considered making…

  • By: Staff
  • August 16, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:45
Sounding Board: Building financial wellness into the lifetime journey

Sounding Board: Building financial wellness into the lifetime journey

Retirement is a notion fraught with paradox. For some, it resonates with the possibility of finally having more time to do, well, just about anything.…

Ontario joins Alberta, New Brunswick in making abortion pill available for free

Ontario is joining Alberta and New Brunswick in making abortion pill Mifegymiso available at no cost to the public. The abortion pill first became available in…

Acceptance of digital health tools on the rise

Acceptance of digital health tools on the rise

Canadians over the age of 52 are the least likely to use digital technology to communicate with health-care professionals, according to a new survey by…

Green Shield to introduce new pharmacy rating system

Green Shield to introduce new pharmacy rating system

Green Shield Canada is rolling out a new pharmacy rating system in October 2017. The insurer’s program will measure individual pharmacies’ performance and provide feedback…

  • By: Staff
  • July 14, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:00
WSIB, Ontario sued over treatment of chronic mental stress claims

WSIB, Ontario sued over treatment of chronic mental stress claims

Two groups that represent injured workers in Ontario and a former Ottawa employee have launched legal proceedings against the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board and…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • July 5, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 15:53
Fostering workplace friendships key to engagement at B.C. company

Fostering workplace friendships key to engagement at B.C. company

For legal software company Clio, employee engagement is crucial — so much so that it has revamped its five administration roles as employee engagement specialists.…

Getting to know staff ‘one of the biggest things’ for addressing mental health

Getting to know staff ‘one of the biggest things’ for addressing mental health

Workplace issues like missed deadlines or tardiness may mean employees are being careless or not managing their time well, but they could also be the…

How to conquer employee resistance to your wellness program

How to conquer employee resistance to your wellness program

Following the implementation of a workplace wellness program, there are two groups of employees that require followup and support. My last column covered how to…

  • June 27, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 17:15
What you don’t know about your employee assistance program

What you don’t know about your employee assistance program

On one of the top floors of a non-descript building in downtown Toronto, Morneau Shepell Ltd.’s care access centre representatives are fielding intake calls, the…

What resources can employers use to assess employee well-being?

What resources can employers use to assess employee well-being?

In 2013, McKesson Canada Corp. launched a wellness program in an effort to reduce benefits costs and expenses resulting from decreased productivity and engagement and…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • June 27, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:50
A creative way to use wellness credits to boost productivity

A creative way to use wellness credits to boost productivity

At up to 10 per cent of total payroll costs, benefits plans represent a significant investment for organizations. But what does the employer get out…

Employers urged to address ‘serious public health issue’ of poor sleep

Employers urged to address ‘serious public health issue’ of poor sleep

While employees with poor sleep habits are more likely to see an impact on their work, treatment can make a significant difference to their quality…

Medavie Blue Cross adds smoking-cessation services to chronic disease benefit

Medavie Blue Cross adds smoking-cessation services to chronic disease benefit

Medavie Blue Cross is adding heart health and smoking-cessation services to its extended health benefit designed to help manage chronic disease. The health benefit already…

  • By: Staff
  • June 22, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 14:35
New online platform joins roster of benefits disruptors

New online platform joins roster of benefits disruptors

A new technology platform has entered Canada’s benefits and human resources industry, adding to the multiple disruptors already active in the sector. On Wednesday, Rise…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • June 15, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 10:40
Roche employees’ summer made easier through on-site kids camp

Roche employees’ summer made easier through on-site kids camp

Take your kids to work day happens all summer long at the Indianapolis campus of Roche’s diagnostics division. The drug company has hosted an on-site summer…

Tips for employers to prepare for legalization of recreational marijuana

Tips for employers to prepare for legalization of recreational marijuana

With recreational marijuana set to become legal in Canada next summer, employers have limited time to prepare for the coming changes, attendees at a presentation sponsored by…

New mental-health training kit introduced for SMEs

New mental-health training kit introduced for SMEs

MHIB Global Inc. has introduced a new online mental-health training program for small- and medium-sized companies. Small businesses “sometimes feel a little overwhelmed,” says Julie…