Atlantic Canada’s population is growing at a slower rate compared to other parts of Canada. As the region’s workforce ages, how are health trends impacting the workforce? How can employers make their workplaces more appealing to young employees and what’s the role of benefits offerings in attracting and retaining them?
Presenters at the recent Halifax Benefits Summit addressed some of those issues, speaking about how plan sponsors can improve their workforce, reduce costs and manage the risks in their benefits and wellness plans.
Photos from the event are available in our photo gallery.
Here are the highlights of the sessions:
New advances in tackling cardiovascular disease
Dr. Milan Gupta has a heartfelt message for plan sponsors, managers and employees: Cardiovascular disease is a problem, and it’s one that’s not going away any time soon
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Improving care at the pharmacy level
Seven years ago, sales of generic drugs were having a significant impact on drug plan costs. Those savings, however, are declining as overall pharmaceutical costs are climbing once more. Between 2010 and 2020, estimates suggest the demand for specialty drugs, including biologics, will grow by 600 per cent to more than $12 billion, according to Mark Rolnick, vice-president of payor partnerships and plan sponsor innovation at Shoppers Drug Mart.
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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 has caught on in the United States with organizations like Google Inc., Ben & Jerry’s and the House of Representatives all offering employees the opportunity to get a little shuteye while at work.
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What’s trending in health plan spending?
Understanding how members are using their benefits plans and how that use has changed is central to ensuring a successful and sustainable plan. For Medavie Blue Cross, that understanding comes from data from 300,000 members encompassing 2.9 million Canadians who receive $3.5 billion in benefit claims a year.
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A call for more solutions to address the growing diabetes burden
With 3.4 million Canadians living with the disease, diabetes is taking a toll on Canadians and the country’s health system.
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Prof touts the many ways companies can make workplaces better for younger employees
No individual employer is going to change the reality of an aging demographic or generational attitudes, but there are several things organizations can do to make work more satisfying for younger employees, a professor told participants at the 2017 Halifax Benefits Summit.
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