Family-building benefits can go a long way in supporting employers’ attraction and retention efforts, says David Krieger, regional vice-president of benefits consulting at BFL Canada. “Employees are looking for their employers to provide more support in all aspects of their lives, including building their families. We’re also seeing surrogacy coverage becoming more prevalent in Canada […]
The food and beverage company’s manager of pension, benefits and wellness discusses fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment, the importance of flexible benefits and the soothing silence of swimming. Q: What top challenges do you face in your role? A: In the realm of total rewards, simplification versus personalization is the challenge I experience […]
After years of viewing diversity, equity and inclusion as a side-of-the-desk issue, Canadian employers are increasingly considering it a top priority and integrating their organizational DEI goals into their benefits plans. While employers have been introducing DEI initiatives for years, incorporating these goals into benefits plans had been neglected, according to multiple panellists during Benefits Canada’s […]
When Jessica Charbonneau decided to have a child through assisted reproduction a few years ago, it wasn’t cheap, but her employer helped shoulder some of the costs. Charbonneau, a 36-year-old student affairs case manager at the University of Toronto’s Mississauga campus, started with intrauterine insemination, spending a total of $15,000 for six rounds. The university’s […]
Amazon is expanding its family-building support program outside of Canada and the U.S., making it available to full-time, part-time and hourly employees in 50 additional countries across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. In partnership with Maven Clinic, a virtual clinic for women’s and family health, the organization will give employees and […]
TD Bank Group credits its culture of care for the recent enhancements to its benefits plan. “We place a great amount of emphasis and focus on this, which is a key element of our [employee] promise,” said Susy Michor, the bank’s vice-president of human resources, global retirement benefits and well-being, during Benefits Canada’s 2023 Benefits […]
Jessica Tincopa may leave the photography business she spent 14 years building for one reason — to find coverage for fertility treatment. After six miscarriages, Tincopa and her husband started saving for in vitro fertilization, which can cost more than US$20,000. But the coronavirus pandemic wiped out their savings and they can’t find coverage for IVF in their state’s health insurance marketplace. So the California couple is saving again and […]
PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada is supporting employees with enhanced family-building benefits. The enhanced benefits, provided by Sun Life Financial Inc., include coverage for procedures and drugs related to fertility; lab services, testing and other surrogate medical expenses; prenatal fitness classes, vitamins and other expenses related to surrogate wellness; as well as agency fees and other expenses related […]