A new report by the Mental Health Commission of Canada highlights the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to address system challenges, drive innovation and deliver seamless, equitable mental-health and substance use health services for Canadians, says the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association. The report summarized a series of roundtable discussions […]
The Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan is continuing to embrace a hybrid working arrangement for employees following positive feedback gathered through internal surveys. In the years since the organization introduced a hybrid arrangement in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, employee satisfaction and happiness has continually increased, says Anna MacDonald, the ASEBP’s director of human […]
Canada’s sick pay rate is the best in North America at an average of US$697.21 per week, according to a recent report by Moorepay Ltd. The report, which researched the statutory sick pay legislation in 113 countries, found the Bahamas was the second highest in North America, with $500.19, followed by Panama at $493.39 and […]
As we come to the end of another year, we continue to confront an uncertain geopolitical landscape, with wars raging on and leaders tangled in conflict, as well as enduring market churn, wild weather caused by catastrophic climate change and artificial intelligence creeping into every part of our lives. This is our current reality and […]
The organization’s total rewards manager talks family-building benefits, supporting younger workers’ well-being and the joys of online chess. Q: What new programs or initiatives are you looking to implement? A: In alignment with our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we’re expanding our family-building and support programs to better meet the evolving needs of our […]
Foundational or ‘workplace literacy’ skills — including communication, problem solving and digital competency — are becoming essential as employers struggle to find candidates who meet current labour market needs, says Alison Howard, executive director of ABC Life Literacy Canada. “Nearly half of working-age Canadians struggle with low literacy, and that is a major barrier to […]
People leaders were 1.7 times more likely to experience high stress than individual contributors in 2025, according to a new report by McLean & Company. It found leadership demands continued to rise as workplace complexity, technological change and shifting employee expectations accelerated faster than organizations could support, with many leaders acting as “organizational catch-alls” who […]
An article on Ontario’s proposed changes to preferred pharmacy network agreements 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. How Ontario’s proposed changes to preferred pharmacy networks could reshape drug plan costs 2. How predictability in the […]
“The saying ‘change or die’ has been around forever, but right now, that’s more true than ever,” said Linda Duxbury, a professor at Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business, during the keynote session at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Healthy Outcomes Conference. “We are in extremely unsettled times. The pandemic shook our foundations of how we do a […]
When a plan sponsor was seeing musculoskeletal issues come up in disability claims, it wanted to figure out if it could do more to support employees, according to Tamara Harduwar (pictured right), Manulife Canada’s director of health insights and outcomes for group benefits. During a session at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Healthy Outcomes Conference, she said […]