With travel to the U.S. becoming anxious, if not risky, for many Canadians, employers are facing the prospect of employees refusing to travel south of the border. But can employers require employees to do so, and do employees have a basis on which to refuse? “My advice to employers is not to assume that employees […]
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 […]
Canadian employees with caregivering responsibilities are facing rising levels of stress, lost income and workplace strain, according to a new survey by virtual-care platform Maple Corp. The survey, which polled more than 1,500 employees, found working caregivers were almost twice as likely as non-caregivers to miss work due to mental-health reasons (10 per cent compared […]
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 […]
Despite the World Health Organization declaring the coronavirus pandemic over in May 2023, the health crisis continues to shape workplaces around the globe. “Before the pandemic, workplaces were more structured and, if something occurred in an employee’s life that meant they couldn’t get into the office, they weren’t working,” says Erin Evans, a benefits and […]
The organization’s senior manager of employee benefits talks voluntary benefits, balancing costs with flexibility and travelling around the world. Q: What new programs or initiatives are you looking to implement? A: We’re currently focused on building a more streamlined and centralized benefits experience across 123Dentist. A key initiative is moving to a more integrated platform […]
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 […]
An article on one of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s wins in Benefits Canada’s 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards 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. Pratt & Whitney Canada’s winning well-being program centres around four pillars of […]
Flight Centre Travel Group’s all-encompassing approach to supporting employee mental health landed a win in Benefits Canada’s 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards in the Mental Health Program category for employers with fewer than 1,000 employees. The organization’s ‘deep health model’ focuses on the intersections of mental, emotional, physical, relational, existential and environmental well-being. In particular, mental […]