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 […]
When a plan member wants to lose weight but doesn’t know where to start or is unsure what their benefits plan covers, it can feel like a game of snakes and ladders, said Eveline Keable, strategic leader of health, wellness and disability for group benefits and retirement solutions at iA Financial Group, during Benefits Canada’s […]
Amid ongoing geopolitical tension, the U.S. trade war and the rising cost of living, it’s important for employers to provide a psychological safe workplace, says Alan King, president and chief executive officer of consultancy Workplace Options. “There’s a level of uncertainty that comes when you hear and experience the things that are going on. But […]
The workplace programs, tools and supports that employees value have changed over the last four years, leading many employers to pause certain office perks, such as table football or fancy coffee bars, to focus on offerings that can make a difference in employees’ everyday lives. “While no one can say employees won’t enjoy a foosball […]
Admiral Insurance’s award-winning benefits program is demonstrating how employers can use versatility to strike a fine balance between finding innovative solutions and maintaining plan sustainability. The organization was the winner in the Drug/Benefits Plan Innovation category of the 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards. “We’re honoured to win this award and be nominated in three categories,” says Allison Jost […]
A large majority (80 per cent) of Canadian employers feel it’s extremely (36 per cent) or somewhat challenging (44 per cent) to provide benefits in today’s economic climate, according to the 2024 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. However, three-quarters (77 per cent) of plan sponsors indicated their health benefits plan was extremely or very important to […]
Mental-health claims by Canadians have increased by 132 per cent since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report by GreenShield. The report, which compiled data from the insurer’s claims database between 2020 to 2023, found women and younger generations account for the majority of mental-health services accessed. Among those accessing mental-health services, stress […]
Everyone loves a deal, but many Canadians either forget or don’t realize they can find discounts through their workplace. “There really are a lot [of perks] that employees just don’t seem to know about,” says Debby Carreau, chief executive officer and founder of Inspired HR, a human resources consultancy with offices across Canada. “Those things […]
The University Pension Plan’s chief people officer discusses expanding the talent pool, providing access to personalized and culturally relevant mental-health practitioners and finding time to enjoy the theatre. Q: What top challenges do you face in your role? A: As a new organization responsible for delivering pension security to 40,000 members, we need to attract […]
More than two-fifths (42 per cent) of workers feel exhausted after work; with a quarter citing excessive workload as the leading cause of their burnout, according to Telus Health’s latest mental-health index. The survey found Canadians’ overall mental-health score declined to 64.0, down from 64.4 in March. Indeed, respondents also cited too many personal demands (20 […]