Hub International Ltd. has acquired the assets of employee benefits and commercial insurance firm Integrated Risk Solutions Inc. Based in Waukesha, Wis., Integrated Risk specializes in employee benefits, risk management consulting, commercial insurance, loss control engineering and claims management. It has advised on compliance and risk management issues for clients in the construction, manufacturing, transportation, hospitality, […]
Walmart Canada is launching an education assistance program for employees and their eligible family members. The company has partnered with Humber College and its network of educational partners to introduce the AdvancED program. All of Walmart’s full-time staff who attend an accredited Canadian college or university are eligible to receive an annual $2,500 tuition reimbursement. An additional 20 per cent tuition […]
The Great-West Life Assurance Co. is introducing a group benefits solution for small employers. Small employers, with fewer than 100 employees, make up 98 per cent of organizations in Canada, noted a press release. And fewer than half (45 per cent) offer employee benefits, which can leave many without protection from routine and unexpected health costs. Flexbox is a self-serve, […]
Two-thirds (62 per cent) of global employees said they’d exchange their work-related data for more customized benefits, rewards and compensation, according to a new survey by Accenture. The global survey, which polled 1,400 corporate executives and 10,000 employees across 13 industries, also found 92 per cent of employees are open to their employers collecting data […]
Following the legalization of recreational cannabis in October 2018, most Canadian organizations created policies for employees on what is and isn’t allowed in the workplace. But one group that hasn’t been considered is employees’ kids, those in their teenage years who are most vulnerable to cannabis use and overuse. Cannabis use among Canadian youth aged 15 to 24 is […]
In 2018, several significant employment and labour law changes were rolled out across Canada, especially in Ontario, which saw a change of government in June. “These changes will no doubt have an important impact on your workplace,” said Chelsea Rasmussen, an employment and labour law associate at Dentons LLP, speaking during a webinar hosted by the law firm last […]
Not all chiropractors practice according to the same philosophy. This is leading some in the benefits industry to believe more scrutiny is necessary when it comes to paramedical expenses and determining whether they’re being used for evidence-based treatments. A recent article in the Globe and Mail highlighted a divide within the chiropractic profession between those who practice evidence-based treatments and those […]
While insurers are consistently providing innovative plan design options for employers, that doesn’t detract from the reality that it’s a difficult time for employers, according to the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association’s Karen Voin. “At the heart of it, they want to ensure they’re not impacting their employees, and are really conscious of what the impact […]
American International Group Inc. is adding a new surrogacy reimbursement benefit and an enhanced adoption benefit for its U.S. employees. The organization’s adoption and surrogacy assistance program, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2019, includes reimbursement of up to $13,800 of eligible surrogacy-related expenses per child and an increase to the adoption reimbursement per child, from $7,500 […]
Fewer U.S. employees are reporting their employers are offering benefits, according to a new survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and Greenwald & Associates. Despite a tight labour market, the survey found declines in eight out of the 10 most popular benefits offerings. Health insurance remained the most frequently offered (78 per cent) benefit in […]