During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ottawa Community Housing Corp. battened down the hatches and focused on addressing any absence management issues before they occurred. Now, Cindy Newell, the company’s director of human resources, says OCH is expecting to see fewer disability leaves post-pandemic, thanks to a proactive absence and disability management strategy […]
As the country began shutting down to focus on beating back the coronavirus at the height of the pandemic in March 2020, people with chronic health conditions fell to the back of the health-care line. “While all Canadians probably faced — to some extent — a negative impact due to some of the public health […]
SAP Canada Inc.’s vice-president and head of human resources talks embracing flexible working, keeping the “human” in HR and winter sports. Q. What top challenges do you face in your role? A. SAP is a global organization, so everything we do must be within the context of what works for us in the country but […]
Employees at several Indigo Books & Music Inc. stores across Canada are unionizing, as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has “highlighted the precarity of retail work in general and how little say workers have in rapidly changing work environments. “Joining [United Food and Commercial Workers Canada] provided security and gave workers a voice without fear of retaliation,” […]
More than eight in 10 (83 per cent) U.S. organizations are implementing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in 2021, according to a new survey by WorldatWork. Among the 83 per cent, almost a third (29 per cent) said they took their first action on DEI initiatives during the past 12 months. Nearly all (97 per […]
Employees are prioritizing workplace benefits plans amid an increasingly competitive job market, according to a new Ipsos survey for RBC Insurance Inc. The survey, conducted among more than 1,000 working Canadians aged 18 and older, found 68 per cent would take a job with a good benefits plan over another that pays more but doesn’t […]
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, mental health was viewed as a workplace challenge waiting in the wings, but it’s moving to centre stage for many employers as companies across the globe prepare to mark a second World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10 in the clutches of this public health crisis. “The pandemic has created […]
Nearly half (44 per cent) of employers that offer retirement benefits said employee productivity has been better than normal over the past year, compared to 29 per cent of employers that don’t offer retirement benefits, according to a survey by Maru Group Ltd. on behalf of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan. The survey, which […]
Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada’s group benefits and Lumino Health platform are rebranding as Sun Life Health, a new business unit focused on empowering Canadians to live their healthiest lives no matter where they are in their wellness journey. “Sun Life Health brings these areas of expertise together, providing Canadians with a partner on their […]
The union representing employees at the Globe and Mail has ratified a new three-year contract that will provide a $1,500 mental-health benefit. Howard Law, director for the media sector at Unifor, says the mental-health benefit was increased from $850 and won’t be subject to the overall paramedical cap of $1,500. Read: Reliance Home Comfort, Unifor […]