The coronavirus pandemic has increased health-care costs in the U.S., while shifting how and where employees access care, according to a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. It projected that the costs of medical treatment in the U.S. will increase by 6.5 per cent in 2022, slightly lower than this year (seven per cent). “The pandemic’s long […]
When Sun Life Assurance Co.’s employees return to work once the coronavirus pandemic recedes, they’ll be able to choose whether they work at home or in the office thanks to the company’s new flexible work policy. The insurer’s 12,000 employees won’t be required to work from the office any minimum or maximum number of days. Instead, […]
Unvaccinated workers returning to the office could be required to continue wearing masks, steer clear of common areas and face a staggered workday or may even be asked to stay home, say experts. As workplaces begin to reopen, employers are grappling with how to keep all workers safe — including those who are unvaccinated. It’s […]
A labour dispute between hospitality workers and two Vancouver hotels is affecting the employees’ health benefits and pension plan. More than 50 hospitality workers at the Pacific Gateway Hotel near the Vancouver International Airport are striking over the right to be recalled, while another 100 workers employed at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown hotel in Burnaby, B.C., […]
Although vaccinations have been ramping up across the country, almost half (46 per cent) of Canadians who are working from home are anxious about contracting the virus if and when they return to the office, according to a survey conducted by Workplace Strategies for Mental Health on behalf of the Canada Life Assurance Co. The […]
Anyone who’s ever run a marathon or completed an endurance race or trek knows the last few miles are the hardest, both physically and mentally. For most Canadians, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has been a marathon of sorts and, although we appear to be getting closer to the end, the finish line keeps moving. While […]
More than half (54 per cent) of Canadian employees said they’d leave their employer if current flexibility in schedule and work location isn’t extended post-coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey by EY Canada. “Whether you know — and accept — it or not, your employees have been forever transformed and walking back this sea […]
Lululemon Athletica Inc. is helping employees maintain physical and mental well-being amid the coronavirus pandemic with a series of wellness initiatives. In an emailed statement to Benefits Canada, Angela Wright, vice-president of health and wealth and organization planning at Lululemon, said the company increased its focus on employee well-being during the pandemic, with many existing […]
Almost half (40 per cent) of American workers said the coronavirus pandemic’s made them more concerned about planning for retirement, according to a survey by the Indexed Annuity Readiness Council. The survey, which polled more than 2,000 adults in the U.S., also found 30 per cent of American workers said their plans to retire at […]
Insecure financial situations, worsening physical health and boredom in both work and free time were the biggest factors affecting British and French employees’ well-being during the first coronavirus pandemic lockdown, according to new research from the international Emylon Business School in Lyon, France. The study, by the business school’s Lifestyle Research Center, looked at the […]