Employers have the opportunity to create a more inclusive workplace by focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion as employees return to the office. The shift to remote working during the coronavirus pandemic presented employers an opportunity to reassess what, where and how work gets done, says Stephanie Braid, the director of inclusion, diversity and equity at KPMG […]
Before new pay transparency legislation takes effect in Ontario, it’s important for employers to ensure their current compensation structure is in order, says Dominic Girard, a senior consultant in compensation at Arthur J. Gallagher and Co. If passed, the legislation would require employers to include expected salary ranges in job postings so candidates are better poised to make informed […]
While many organizations are joining the conversation around diversity, equity and inclusion, it’s about more than just saying the right things and having the right policies; it’s about changing the systems that increase the success of diverse people in the workplace. Ksenia Kamenskaya, head of people and culture, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. To make […]
Even though the pandemic phase of the coronavirus crisis may be waning, two winners and three finalists in the 2022 Workplace Benefits Awards’ mental-health categories are keeping their feet on the gas in making employee support a priority and overcoming the lingering stigma. Regardless of the sector in which they operate, all of these organizations […]
As the coronavirus pandemic prompted a meaningful change in how employers communicate with their workforces, Telus Communications Inc. reviewed job types and created personas around these employee groups, communicating well-being information differently depending on the persona. “We were doing that before, but it became even more important during the pandemic and . . . in […]
Financial education and well-being initiatives are in the spotlight as employees face the stress of multiple financial headwinds — from inflation reaching a 40-year high to the strong likelihood of an impending recession — and search for advice and clarity. “There’s a very strong correlation between financial wellness and mental wellness,” said Dr. Jim Chung […]
When it comes to communicating with employees, it can be challenging for employers to create subject matter that’s engaging enough to ensure staff properly absorb all of the information. In 2021, the City of Toronto decided to try a new strategy by adding an animated video to its benefits communications campaign. “People are busy. We […]
As employers increasingly customize their human resources, benefits and pension communications campaigns, how are these methods connecting with employees? Long gone are the days of chunky tomes of group benefits and pension information. Once the norm, those pages and pages of minutiae have gradually been replaced by more personalized and targeted communications. “Direct communication is […]
Employers of all sizes are rethinking their plans to send workers back to the office as the new Omicron variant adds another layer of uncertainty. Google and Ford Motor Co. are among those once again delaying their return-to-office plans, while other businesses whose employees have already returned are considering adding extra precautions like requiring masks. […]
Refreshing and re-communicating its mental-health program during the coronavirus pandemic led to 3M Canada’s win at the 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 14. Back in 2013, the manufacturing company began a journey to “empower employees to refresh, re-energize and feel well,” according to its award entry. However, while the wellness program was effective, the […]