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Lost, damaged prescriptions cost Canadians $35M in productivity, travel last year: study

Lost, damaged prescriptions cost Canadians $35M in productivity, travel last year: study

Lost or damaged prescriptions cost Canadians more than $35 million in productivity, extra travel and time spent filling prescriptions and the potential for adverse health…

  • By: Staff
  • August 22, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:15
Starseed Medicinal to supply medical marijuana to Shoppers Drug Mart

Starseed Medicinal to supply medical marijuana to Shoppers Drug Mart

Starseed Medicinal Inc. has reached an agreement to be the medical cannabis supplier for Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. The agreement is subject to Health Canada’s approval…

  • By: Staff
  • August 22, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:43
40% of precarious workers in Canada have access to pension, RRSP: report

40% of precarious workers in Canada have access to pension, RRSP: report

Only 40 per cent of Canadians who are classified as precarious workers have access to pension plans or registered retirement savings plans, compared to 85 per cent of…

  • By: Staff
  • August 22, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
One-quarter of Canadians say exercise prohibited by finances: survey

One-quarter of Canadians say exercise prohibited by finances: survey

More than a quarter (26 per cent) of Canadians say the financial cost of exercise can be prohibitive or necessitates compromising their budget, according to…

  • By: Staff
  • August 21, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 17:53
Accompass adds Chris Raposo to benefits practice

Accompass adds Chris Raposo to benefits practice

Accompass Inc. has appointed Chris Raposo as a consultant in its benefits and health practice.  He joins the firm with 13 years of group benefits experience at…

  • By: Staff
  • August 21, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 17:44
Consider health benefits, workplace policies as legal cannabis approaches

Consider health benefits, workplace policies as legal cannabis approaches

On Oct. 17, 2018, it will be legal to purchase and consume recreational cannabis in Canada. In a recent survey of Mercer’s employer clients and Canadian employees, we found…

  • August 21, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 08:30
Knowledge of private coverage affects doctors’ prescribing behaviour: survey

Knowledge of private coverage affects doctors’ prescribing behaviour: survey

The vast majority (87 per cent) of physicians said the knowledge that a patient has private drug coverage affects their prescribing behaviour, according to a survey by…

  • By: Staff
  • August 20, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:15
New agreement for N.S. health-care workers includes retention incentive, retirement allowance

New agreement for N.S. health-care workers includes retention incentive, retirement allowance

A new collective agreement for 6,500 health-care employees in Nova Scotia includes a new employee retention incentive and the option to take a payout from…

One-third of Canadian employers feel prepared for legal pot: survey

One-third of Canadian employers feel prepared for legal pot: survey

One-third of Canadian employers feel prepared for the impending legalization of cannabis, according to a new survey by Mercer Canada. The survey, which polled 366 Canadian…

  • By: Staff
  • August 16, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:23
Private drug plan claims, cost per claimant on the rise, finds new research

Private drug plan claims, cost per claimant on the rise, finds new research

Between 2012 and 2016, Canada’s total private drug claims market increased by a 4.7 per cent compound annual growth rate, according to new research by Innovative Medicines…

Majority of Canadians would take advantage of virtual doctor visits: survey

Majority of Canadians would take advantage of virtual doctor visits: survey

More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Canadians would use virtual visits for at least a few of their appointments with physicians, according to a…

  • By: Staff
  • August 14, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:30
Improving employee mental health among top HR priorities for 2019

Improving employee mental health among top HR priorities for 2019

Improving the mental health of employees ranks ahead of physical health and wellness as a top priority for human resources leaders for 2019, according to a…

  • By: Staff
  • August 14, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:09
Mercer to acquire Pavilion’s investment consulting business

Mercer to acquire Pavilion’s investment consulting business

Mercer is acquiring the investment consulting, alternatives consulting and wealth management operations of Pavilion Financial Corp. Pavilion, a global investment services firm with about 300…

  • By: Staff
  • August 14, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:38

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

An article on the Ontario Court of Appeal’s affirmation of a $1.5 million punitive damages award was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the…

  • By: Staff
  • February 9, 2024 February 8, 2024
  • 09:00

Court of Appeal upholds $1.5 million punitive damages award in LTD claims case

The Ontario Court of Appeal’s affirmation of a $1.5 million punitive damages award — reportedly the largest award of its kind in a Canadian long-term…

Manulife, Loblaw deal to deliver specialty drugs sparks access, competition concerns

Some pharmacare policy experts are raising concerns about competition and patient access to much-needed medication after Manulife Financial Corp. announced its coverage of certain prescription…

Expert panel: How plan sponsors are navigating benefits costs, innovations in 2024

With 2024 well underway, it’s important for employers to adapt their strategies in the ever-evolving landscape of employee benefits. Employee expectations continue to evolve and…

Survey finds U.S. gen Z employees more likely to expect tailored benefits

U.S. generation Z employees are more likely to expect a tailored, year-round benefits experience than other employees, according to a new survey by MetLife Inc.…

  • By: Staff
  • January 26, 2024 January 25, 2024
  • 09:00

Employers can improve benefits communication, highlight mental-health support for ‘Blue Monday’

Employers can use the time surrounding ‘Blue Monday’ to ensure they’re communicating properly with employees and highlighting mental-health supports, says Gianna Ricciardi, vice-president and practice…

New incentives could boost satisfaction with in-person work, but few employers are making changes

Justin Ryan Horton has two jobs. When he’s not working 24-hour shifts as a firefighter, he’s working as an administrative assistant for a local community…

U.S. government launching initiative to encourage more employee ownership

The U.S. Department of Labor is launching an employee ownership initiative to encourage more employers and employees to take advantage of these opportunities. The new…

  • By: Staff
  • July 26, 2023 July 25, 2023
  • 09:00

Report finds DEI increasingly important in talent attraction, retention efforts

While more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of employers say the macroeconomic environment is negatively impacting recruitment, three-quarters (74 per cent) say it hasn’t reduced…

  • By: Staff
  • April 11, 2023 April 10, 2023
  • 09:00