More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of employers in Ontario believe supporting employee mental health and well-being is important for their organization’s success, according to a new survey by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. However, the survey, which polled more than 1,900 organizations across the province, also found just over a third (37 per cent) […]
An article on how employers can use ‘Blue Monday’ as an opportunity to discuss mental health was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Employers can use ‘Blue Monday’ to reset workplace mental-health strategies 2. Microsoft’s U.S. employees receiving unlimited vacation days 3. Walmart enhancing […]
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is prioritizing accessibility and inclusion in its new offices at CIBC Square in downtown Toronto. “The building was formally announced in spring 2017, with design research starting shortly after that included consultation with 6,000 employees,” says Claudette Knight, vice-president of workplace design and transformation at CIBC. “The results of that […]
Employers requiring workers with disabilities to return to the office should increase flexibility and regularly check in with these employees to make the transition as smooth as possible, says Farzeen Mawji, national practice leader in inclusion and diversity at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Remote and hybrid working arrangements proved beneficial for many employees with […]
Amazon Canada is prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility by working closely with its People With Disabilities employee resource group and adding supports such as internal sign language interpreters. “One of the things we’ve really focused on is building a sense of belonging and demonstrating that we value our employees and the diversity of [our workforce],” says […]
Fluor Canada Ltd.’s manager of Indigenous relations and DEI discussed the post-coronavirus pandemic workplace, employee resource groups and fishing. Q: What top challenges do you face in your role? A: Employee engagement can be challenging in the post-[coronavirus] pandemic hybrid working model. We’ve come out of a strictly work-from-home circumstance to a hybrid model and, […]
Walmart Canada is increasing its mental-health benefits coverage for employees and expanding access to virtual health care. Effective Feb. 1, 2023, the company will provide $3,500 in annual mental-health coverage per employee, up from $1,000. “We wanted to make a statement with our [employees] in terms of support for their mental health and $1,000 just […]
As employers increasingly focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in their human resources policies and benefits programs, KPMG in Canada has introduced a daily living benefit that provides coverage for living aid equipment for employees. Some examples of equipment that qualifies under the new benefit are chairlifts, grab bars and bathroom equipment such as bath […]
Nearly a third (30 per cent) of insurers are making changes to ensure there’s diversity among the medical providers within their networks, according to a new report by Mercer. The report found more than a quarter (27 per cent) of insurers said they’ve changed their eligibility access processes to make coverage more inclusive for LGBTQ2S+ […]
Cigna is focusing on ‘purposeful presence’ in its return-to-work strategy, amid the ‘Great Resignation’ and employees increasingly choosing roles that align with their values. The strategy stems from the company’s core belief that performance is based on outcomes instead of physical presence, according to a press release, which noted the approach is applied to all […]