It’s important for employers to examine benefits data to tailor their offerings and focus on organizational resiliency to be successful in the year ahead, says Janine Mcinnis, vice-president of benefits consulting at Hub International Canada. “[Employers] striving to build sustainable, responsible businesses have a lot to contend with in 2026. In a landscape shaped by […]
In 2025, many organizations took steps to address an uncertain economy while responding to changing pressures. Looking ahead to 2026, there are some trends and areas of priority that might feel awfully familiar to those of previous years. However, they’re showing up in different ways than in the more recent past. Cost sustainability Many organizations […]
An article on the legal considerations for employers requiring cross-border travel was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. What are the legal considerations for Canadian employers requiring cross-border travel in the Trump era? 2. Financial Literacy […]
Canadian Baptist Ministries is supporting employee health and managing costs through a flexible benefits plan model that will be introduced at the end of 2025. The new model has been in the works for several years, following feedback from plan members on the current benefits offering, says Rob Jackett, senior director of finance and administration. […]
Canadian employees with caregivering responsibilities are facing rising levels of stress, lost income and workplace strain, according to a new survey by virtual-care platform Maple Corp. The survey, which polled more than 1,500 employees, found working caregivers were almost twice as likely as non-caregivers to miss work due to mental-health reasons (10 per cent compared […]
Employer-sponsored health benefits costs are set to increase by 9.8 per cent in 2026, according to a new report by Aon. The report pointed to a return to single-digit growth for the first time since 2023, but also underscores the reality that price inflation, advanced medical technologies, increased benefits utilization and rising prescription drug costs […]
Nearly all (86 per cent) U.S. employers are reporting an increase in cancer care costs through their benefits plan, with a median increase of 11 per cent since 2024, according to a new report by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. It found the most popular steerage techniques that organizations are using to mitigate […]
Balancing benefits plan sustainability against meeting the evolving needs of employees continues to keep Canadian plan sponsors up at night. “I think since COVID we’ve seen such a shift in expectations [around] work-life balance, a focus on [diversity, equity and inclusion] and mental health,” said Laura Carter (pictured left), associate director of benefits at the […]
An article on amendments to Quebec employment legislation was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Quebec employment legislation introducing unpaid leave for workers impacted by provincial health, disaster orders 2. HOOPP providing menopause-inclusive workplace through benefits, […]
When updating their benefits program, some employers may be hesitant to cut offerings due to a lack of clarity around which benefits are most valued by employees, says Grant Boissonneault, assistant vice-president and relationship lead at Aon. “While benefits programs are intended to support employee well-being and engagement, organizations often rely on assumptions or outdated […]