B.C. plan sponsors will have lots of questions to consider as the provincial government prepares to introduce a new employer health tax. “It’s going to be interesting, because the employers, obviously, are going to be looking at that employer health tax as a cost of doing business,” says Avinash Maniram, a partner and senior consultant at PBI […]
Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of American employers offered telemedicine services to their employees in 2017, a rise from just 49 per cent in 2016, according to a new survey by WorldatWork. Alison Avalos, director of research and certification at the U.S.-based human resources association, noted the dramatic increase is likely due to employers’ efforts to manage […]
From brain fog to fatigue, cancer patients face a range of challenges when it comes to staying at or going back to work. And with a significant number of cancer diagnoses happening to people during their prime working years, employers do have a role in supporting employees in dealing with their conditions, a speaker at Benefits Canada‘s […]
The 2018 budget has confirmed the federal government is creating an advisory council on the implementation of a national pharmacare program. Marc-André Gagnon, associate professor at Carleton University’s School of Public Policy and Administration, believes the budget’s wording around implementation, rather than consultation, marks a real commitment to moving forward on this issue. “The advisory council is really […]
Financial drain, emotional turbulence and tested physical limits are common challenges in the early months of the year. For employees to successfully transition out of that state towards a year of productivity, health and growth, they need to feel supported in prioritizing taking care of themselves. One issue that commonly comes up in the early months is how […]
While many Canadian organizations continue to search for solutions to rising health-care costs, most are falling short. That’s why they must investigate any opportunity to find substantial savings and then take action. One health-related cost that hasn’t gained much attention is absenteeism. As issue often linked to mental-health issues, it’s costing Canadian organizations billions of dollars in payroll costs, […]
CGI Group Inc. has rolled out a new year’s wellness program that tackles employees’ health goals from an initial consultation through to the development of a personalized action plan. The global information technology company, which has Canadian offices in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia, is offering the New Year, New Me program to up […]
More than half (57 per cent) of Canadian employees and managers are currently suffering from a mental-health problem or sleeping disorder, or have done so in the past, according to new research by Morneau Shepell Ltd. However, 27 per cent of employees and 32 per cent of managers surveyed said they’re able to go through their daily work […]
Almost 60 per cent of Canadian human resources managers say the health and wellness offerings at their organizations have declined over the last five years, according to a new survey by staffing firm OfficeTeam. The survey, which polled more than 300 human resources managers and more than 1,000 Canadian workers over the age of 18, also asked respondents […]
One of the biggest topics in the health and benefits industry in 2017 was the federal government’s new 18-month parental leave option. Three stories on this issue topped the list, with news about benefits fraud, health benefits tax and medical marijuana also ranking. Benefits Canada rounds up your favourite health and benefits stories of 2017: Budget boosts parental […]