Working caregivers are placing growing importance on employer support, with 81 per cent saying it’s important for organizations to adopt caregiver-friendly policies, according to new research published by the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, a program of the Azrieli Foundation, during National Caregiving Month. The report found 36 per cent of working caregivers said their […]
May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when organizations create conversations around psychological well-being through campaigns, webinars and internal communications. In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, it has been more important than ever for employers to prioritize employees mental-health needs. However, despite efforts to invest heavily in workplace mental-health benefits, there still appears […]
Flight Centre Travel Group’s pair of wins at the 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards is supporting the employer’s benefits communications strategy by reminding employees of available wellness offerings, says Anna Fisher, the organization’s health and wellness director. “The [Workplace Benefits Awards] are a big deal to us, because they give us a moment to pause and […]
More than half (57 per cent) of Canadian employees with a chronic condition have missed work, reduced hours or taken time off due to their condition, according to a new survey by Maple conducted with the Angus Reid Forum. The survey, which polled more than 1,520 Canadians living with or caring for someone with a […]
Employers are facing growing pressure on their benefits plans as financial stress shapes how employees access care, use coverage and experience health outcomes across life stages, according to a new report by Beneva Inc. It found mental illness alone is estimated to cost the Canadian economy $51 billion annually, while mental-health leaves cost employers twice […]
The Bank of Montreal is supporting employee mental health through an enhanced employee assistance program, an upcoming Indigenous cognitive behavioural therapy tool and an internal wellness conference. In April, the bank launched an EAP service delivery model where employees can now speak directly to a trained clinician when calling the EAP, instead of waiting to […]
Canadian employers are shouldering more than $110 billion a year in costs related to employee mental health, driven by lost productivity, disability leave and workplace accommodations, according to a new report from the Canadian Standards Association. It found those costs represent the largest share of an estimated $180 billion annual economic burden tied to mental-health […]
Air Canada’s vice-president of global human resources discusses its total mental-health offering, working in a fast-moving industry and exploring the world with family and friends. Q: What new programs or initiatives are you looking to implement? A: We have a holistic wellness program at Air Canada called Unlock the Best in You, which focuses on […]
Language barriers are undermining employees’ access to workplace benefits, reducing enrolment and engagement and increasing the risk of errors and misunderstandings, says Parbudyal Singh, professor of human resource management at York University. “In many cases, employees will default to not enrolling or underutilizing benefits because they’re unsure how they work or whether they apply to […]
Claims for fertility medications in Canadian workplace benefits plans have increased by 21 per cent over the past five years, according to a new report by Manulife Canada. The report, which analyzed claims data from plan sponsors offering health benefits plans through Manulife, found more than half (56 per cent) provide coverage for fertility medication, […]