Depression and alcoholism are the leading mental health and substance abuse conditions covered by employers, according to a report by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The survey, which polled nearly 300 Canadian and American organizations, found 84 per cent of employers cover depression and 82 per cent cover alcohol addiction. Anxiety disorders (78 per cent), […]
Green Shield Canada is launching a new benefits product, which will focus on drug coverage and mental-health support and eliminate coverage for massage therapy. The new plan, called SMARTspend, will include a managed drug formulary with 100 per cent coverage and no dollar caps, digital mental-health support options, health coaching from pharmacists and dietitians and vision […]
Manulife Financial Corp.’s short-term disability claims related to mental health have decreased since it boosted its benefits to employees last year. In January 2017, Manulife increased its mental-health benefit, from $1,000 to $10,000 per person per year, including coverage for family members. “Really the goal of that was to remove any financial barriers, real or […]
Canadian participation rates in workplace wellness programs are extremely low, with just 11 per cent of employees participating on a regular basis and 23 per cent participating only occasionally, according to the 2015 Sanofi Canada health-care survey. But one workplace wellness program is reversing this trend. Global health organization Merck Canada Inc. launched its program […]
Motivational interviewing can be a powerful way for health coaches to improve patient outcomes, said Ann Stirling, senior director at CAREpath Inc., during her presentation at Benefits Canada‘s 2018 Healthy Outcomes conference in Toronto. For people having difficulty managing a chronic disease on their own, motivational interviewing can help them take on the challenge, she […]
A lack of understanding is a significant driver of stigma faced by employees who experience migraines, said Rob Grein, a partner at strategic marketing agency PMG Intelligence, during Benefits Canada‘s 2018 Healthy Outcomes conference in May. As part of recent research, Grein has been working to find out what migraine represents in the workplace today. […]
More than a quarter (26 per cent) of Canadians say the financial cost of exercise can be prohibitive or necessitates compromising their budget, according to a new survey by the Desjardins Group. The survey, which polled about 3,000 Canadians between the ages of 18 and 75, found 24 per cent of respondents rate their physical […]
Getting his daily exercise in at his workplace’s fitness centre did more than help Citigroup Inc. employee Jag Singh shrink his waist by a full pant size. It also helped bring a sense of clarity and freshness to his workday. “That’s really what’s changed for me,” said Singh, who works as a senior application programmer […]
Almost 70 per cent of Canadian employees said they have a good or excellent work-life balance, according to a new survey by staffing firm Robert Half. The survey, which queried more than 570 Canadian employees and more than 1,200 Canadians in leadership roles, found 35 per cent of respondents said their work-life balance has improved compared to […]
It wouldn’t be reasonable to proceed with a blood transfusion without first confirming blood type, or order eyeglasses without first confirming the prescription. Why then, do so many organizations launch a workplace wellness program without first confirming the actual health risk areas applicable to their employee population, as well as the cost drivers to the benefits […]