As competition to attract talent continues to heat up amid a tight labour market, the vast majority (90 per cent) of U.S. employers are planning to invest more in employee mental-health support, according to a new survey by Wellable. The survey, which polled almost 200 U.S. health insurance brokers and wellness consultants, found slightly more than […]
As companies adapt their people strategies for return to the office or for a new remote or hybrid work arrangement, employee retention will be a key consideration in 2022. The coronavirus pandemic has created a buyer’s labour market with many people either contemplating or making a change in their employer. Employees are assessing how they […]
Ah, the sights and sounds of the holidays: trees and homes covered in lights, meticulously wrapped gifts piling ever higher and radios blaring the same Christmas songs since Nov. 1. What better time to think about making a will? Hear me out. As we head into another new year, we’re all taking stock of the […]
More than a third (38 per cent) of plan sponsors are planning to update their benefits plan design by the end of this year, on par with those that did so in 2020 (39 per cent), according to a survey by Arthur J. Gallagher Canada Ltd. The survey, which polled more than 500 Canadian plan […]
Roughly two-fifths (41 per cent) of plan sponsors reported offering virtual health-care services through their benefits plan, according to the 2021 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. Among these plan sponsors, 33 per cent said they paid extra to add virtual care to their plan, while 67 per cent said it was part of their standard plan at […]
Employer-provided medical benefits costs in Canada will rise seven per cent in 2022, according to a new survey by Aon. The annual global medical trend rates survey found the expected increase for Canadian employer-sponsored medical plan costs is due to a combination of higher costs for dental care, paramedical expenses and prescription drugs. It was conducted […]
Employees of Rogers Communications Inc. don’t have to look far if they’re searching for new home or car insurance — their employer has multiple discounts available for them. Beyond its traditional benefits package, the company has a website where it “capitalize[s] on the relationships we [hold] as an organization” by providing a range of discounts […]
Canadian employers are increasing their focus on employee well-being as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey from Aon. It found approximately 60 per cent expressed the need to evaluate and improve their mental-health offering, either with new services or by closing coverage or delivery gaps (47 per cent) identified during […]
After a turbulent 2020 brought with it the coronavirus pandemic and a global call for social justice, companies prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion in its wake should start by reviewing their benefits plans to ensure there’s enough flexibility to meet the needs of these times and inclusivity for employees from all backgrounds, says Kim Siddall, […]
Only five per cent of Canadian employers provide coverage for both fertility drugs and related costs such as in-vitro fertilization procedures and testing, according to a new report commissioned by Conceivable Dreams and Fertility Matters Canada. It found more than 85 per cent of benefit plans that covered fertility-related issues had lifetime maximums in place […]