With more than 70 per cent of individuals who use alcohol or illicit drugs actively employed, addiction is present in the workplace and has consequences for these individuals, their colleagues and their employers, according to Stephanie Ipavec-Levasseur, director of product development and group insurance at Desjardins Insurance. During a session at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Mental […]
Despite offering generous benefits packages, many Canadian employers are seeing key benefits go unused or remain effectively invisible to employees, say several experts. A recent report by ADP Canada on employee satisfaction found compensation and benefits scored just 6.1 out of 10, the lowest-rated workplace satisfaction factor among Canadian employees. The gap between what’s offered […]
When Lisa, a 46-year-old marketing manager, started experiencing perimenopause, her career took a hit. Dealing with brain fog, sleep disruption and hot flashes, she shifted to a four-day workweek, cutting her income by 20 per cent, and also started to contemplate an early retirement. Her doctor dismissed her symptoms as just a part of aging […]
Canadian employees’ well-being is declining, with workers reporting an average well-being score of 43.7 out of 100 in 2024, according to a new report by Dialogue Health Technologies Inc. The report polled more than 13,000 employees and assessed their responses across five dimensions of well-being, including mood, stress, sleep, activeness and sense of purpose. It […]
As cases of measles continue to climb across Canada, employers can support employee health and productivity by educating workers on vaccines and encouraging them to maintain up-to-date vaccinations, says Ajit Johal, a community pharmacist, clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia and founder of vaccine education non-profit organization immunize.io. “A healthy workforce is […]
Two-thirds (64 per cent) of global employees in the ‘sandwich generation’— defined as those who are caring for young children and ageing parents — say they’ve experienced depression and anxiety, according to a new report by wellness platform Cleo. The report, based on more than 12,000 user assessments, found among the sandwich generation, half (51 […]
For the past 10 years, Benefits Canada’s Chronic Disease at Work conference has examined the current trends in chronic disease in Canada and what they mean for plan sponsors. Hosted in a virtual format on Feb. 12, the 2025 conference explored several chronic diseases, as well as their impacts on the workplace and the role of employers […]
Obesity is one of the most misunderstood diseases, with stigma and judgement contributing to the misconceptions, said Lisa Schaffer, executive director at Obesity Canada, during a session supported by Eli Lilly Canada at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Chronic Disease at Work conference. Obesity is associated with more than 200 chronic illnesses and nearly one in three […]
Alzheimer’s disease should be an urgent health-care priority because it robs individuals of their autonomy, dignity and quality of life and takes a mental, physical and financial toll on the individual and their families, according to Dr. Sara Mitchell, a cognitive neurologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Speaking during a session supported by Eisai Canada […]
Heading into 2025, the workplace mental-health landscape in Canada continues to transform and grow. Employers continue to recognize that prioritizing mental health is a critical factor in organizational success. Here are three key areas that are shaping the evolution of mental health in the workplace and how employers can take the lead: Breaking the Silence […]