South Asian women remain one of the most educated yet under-utilized groups in Canada’s workforce, facing persistent barriers to progression despite record immigration levels. Canada’s immigration levels more than doubled in recent years to 1.4 million annually and while South Asians made up the largest share of newcomers, they face uneven workforce integration, particularly women, […]
Vancouver City Savings Credit Union is using its internal benefits and employee data to react to the financial realities that workers are facing amid the rising cost of living, says Ivana Afonso, the organization’s director of total rewards. “We know the cost-of-living crisis is hitting our core-aged employees hardest, especially those balancing housing, childcare and […]
Despite offering generous benefits packages, many Canadian employers are seeing key benefits go unused or remain effectively invisible to employees, say several experts. A recent report by ADP Canada on employee satisfaction found compensation and benefits scored just 6.1 out of 10, the lowest-rated workplace satisfaction factor among Canadian employees. The gap between what’s offered […]
When mandating that employees return to the office, employers need to consider the impact it may have on workers and give them the opportunity to adjust appropriately. Last month, in an internal memo, Dell Inc. told its sales team they would be expected to work onsite going forward, giving employees just two-days’ notice of the […]
BDO Canada LLP employees who are considering taking a pottery course, planning a family vacation or even booking a caterer for their wedding can get a little financial assistance from the company’s newest benefit. The consultancy’s Do What You Love program, which launched in 2022, provides plan members with a set annual reimbursement amount for […]
The City of Philadelphia is ordering all 26,000 municipal employees back to the office five days per week, according to a report by National Public Radio. While several unions representing the city’s workers argued that change in work arrangements must be negotiated, a Philadelphia County judge ruled in favour of city officials, who have maintained that […]
Employers can support sandwich generation caregivers by providing extensive well-being benefits, flexibility and leadership training, says Michael Mousseau, national well-being practice leader at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Sandwich generation caregivers are people, typically middle-aged individuals, who find themselves tasked with taking care of their children while also looking after their parents or older family members. […]
As Canadians face the dual effects of the rapidly rising cost of living and interest rates, the resulting financial stress has major implications for plan sponsors, said Valérie Fernandez, senior advisor of workplace health best practices and strategic support for group insurance at Beneva, during Benefits Canada‘s 2023 Healthy Outcomes Conference in October. Indeed, employers […]
Canadian employers are investing in innovative financial, physical and mental-health benefits to drive their attraction and retention efforts, according to a new survey by Mercer. The survey, which polled more than 300 employers, found 59 per cent said they’ve invested in employee discount programs, followed by budgeting and other financial wellness education and supports (51 […]
A four-day workweek promotes gender equity in the workplace and enables male employees to help their partners with household duties, says Grace Tallon, director of operations at the Work Time Reduction Center of Excellence. The responsibility for childcare or elder care has traditionally fallen on women, she adds, so shorter workweeks can level the playing […]