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 discusses 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 […]
More than two years after the coronavirus pandemic shifted many white-collar employees to remote working, some employers are planning their return to the office — even if it means bringing staff back kicking and screaming. Earlier this month, Tesla Inc. founder and chief executive officer Elon Musk made waves when, in internal emails, he demanded […]
Scotiabank’s win at Benefits Canada’s 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards led to increased employee engagement and peer recognition, says Rosemary Hatnay, director and head of total rewards solutions and global human resources services. The bank won in the Pension plan communications category for its streamlined approach to its defined benefit plan statements, making essential information more accessible to plan […]
While most U.S. employers have committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and accessibility initiatives, the majority haven’t embedded these initiatives into their daily processes, according to a survey by Inclusively and Forrester Research Inc. The survey, which polled more than 150 human resources leaders in the U.S., found most respondents said while their company has basic […]