With 44 per cent of Canadian workers experiencing mental-health issues and mental health the fastest growing and leading cause of disability claims, benefits plans are feeling the strain. “The numbers are staggering in terms of what we’re seeing and the continual growth of this as an issue,” said Rebecca Smith, director of group life and […]
A national doctors’ group is raising concerns about the Ontario government’s move to allow employers to require workers to provide a doctor’s note to explain even minor illnesses, such as the common cold. Canadian Medical Association president Dr. Gigi Osler says the measure, included in the government’s Bill 47, could cause public health issues, as […]
A large majority (89 per cent) of employers cited a better control of health-care spending as the top reason for having workplace medical clinics, according to a new survey by Mercer and the National Association of Worksite Health Centers. The survey, which queried 121 U.S. employers offering onsite or near-site medical clinics, found 84 per cent of […]
While Ontario Power Generation has had a major medical absence program in place for years, it saw an opportunity for a review and update in 2016, leading to changes that solidified its win for best absence management program at Benefits Canada’s 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 11. Working with many stakeholders, including unions, human resources […]
In the coming five years, Canadians can expect to see the next stage of awareness around mental health, according one health expert. “Where we need to build on awareness is what the illness actually looks like. There’s still quite a lack of knowledge out there and I believe that’s improving greatly every day,” said Chris Anderson, president of Medaca Health […]
Three-quarters of Canadian employees have taken time off work for a medical appointment, according to a survey by virtual health-care company Wello. The survey, which polled 1,500 Canadian workers, found 39 per cent of respondents have taken a total of two to six or more days off for medical appointments, while 46 per cent have taken the same amount […]
Novus Health is partnering with iA Financial Group to provide employers with health and wellness tools for their plan members. “For many Canadians, health literacy remains a challenge: it can be overwhelming to navigate Canada’s complex health-care systems and understand their options,” said Novus Health in a press release. “What’s more, when searching online for answers to […]
Workplace accommodations and new targeted medications promise to transform the experience of migraine sufferers after decades of neglect, a speaker told participants at a recent event. Dr. Christine Lay, head of the neurology division at Women’s College Hospital, told an audience at Benefits Canada’s Chronic Disease at Work conference that the condition has largely flown under […]
When left unchecked, absenteeism is like a termite that stealthily eats into employee engagement, team morale and organizational output, often costing companies millions of dollars in lost productivity, wages and management time. The trick is to proactively address the issue before it becomes stickier than it needs to be. Quite often, a straightforward conversation between […]
How can employers better address conditions, such as migraines, that are among the factors contributing to illness and absenteeism? With rates of illness and disability on the rise, absenteeism is a significant and growing concern for Canadian employers. Statistics Canada figures for 2017 show rates of absenteeism have been on an upswing in recent years, […]