It was 2023 and Henry Schein Canada was “late to the wellness party,” recalled Faye Gagne (pictured centre), the company’s manager of employee relations and wellness. Post-pandemic, the company’s culture surveys indicated employee stress levels were high, she said, noting she and other senior leaders wanted to reduce disability leave instances and durations, as well […]
Implementing a wellness strategy during the pandemic helped Montreal-based automotive and heavy parts distributor UAP Inc. boost employee engagement, reduce the stigma around mental health for its predominantly male workforce and improve plan members’ financial well-being. In a session during Benefits Canada’s 2025 Healthy Outcomes Conference, Geneviève Hébert (pictured right), the organization’s senior director of […]
Venn Software Inc. is encouraging employees to take care of their physical and mental health through nudges and friendly competitions. The Toronto-based fintech company’s benefits platform, provided by Alan Inc., includes an app that periodically reminds employees to be active or take care of their mental health, says Ahmed Shafik, Venn’s co-founder. “The team likes […]
Economic headwinds, cost pressures and shifting employee expectations are forcing organizations to rethink performance compensation. Traditional pay-for-performance models, built for more predictable business cycles, are showing signs of strain. Many leaders are now asking a difficult but necessary question: are salary increases and incentive awards still tied to performance, or have they evolved into entitlements? […]
An article on proposed changes to preferred pharmacy networks outlined in the Ontario government’s fall economic statement was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Ontario taking steps to end preferred pharmacy networks, introducing VPLA framework 2. […]
When CSA Group rolled out its global wellness incentive program in April, it was aiming to see whether cash rewards could kick start healthier habits and keep employees motivated. “We noticed a significant uptick in participation whenever we ran global step challenges with prizes,” says Aaron Snaith, director of total rewards at CSA Group. “That […]
Canadian employees’ average level of workplace happiness reached 6.9 points out of 10 in October, up 0.3 points from the same month last year, according to a new survey by ADP Canada. It found 70 per cent of workers said fun and social moments at work play a meaningful role in their overall happiness. Nearly […]
Fidelity Canada’s financial wellness program was recognized during Benefits Canada’s 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards for its ‘no strings attached’ approach to contributions in employees’ group registered retirement savings plans. The financial services firm earned the recognition for easing employees’ retirement stresses by contributing to all eligible full- and part-time workers’ group RRSPs without requiring employees […]
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s win in the Drug/Benefits Plan Innovation category at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards can be attributed to innovation, of course, but also generosity. According to one judge, the organization’s benefits program is one of the most generous they’ve seen. It includes: 100 per cent coverage on drugs, with […]
Arc’teryx Equipment was recognized with the Benefits Plan Communications award at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards for its engaging year-round and technology-savvy benefits reminders to employees. “We have learned that [our] how-to videos with fewer words and more graphics or modern technology resonates better with our groups,” said Mikkaela Fernandez (pictured left), the outerwear […]