A majority (92 per cent) of Canadian employees feel they’re at risk of experiencing burnout as the coronavirus pandemic drags on, according to a new survey by Mercer. The survey, which polled 11,000 employers and employees from 16 countries, found 59 per cent of employer respondents are concerned about high employee sickness/absence rates and remote […]
In 2021, Foresters Financial redesigned its retirement and benefits plans to be more flexible, relevant and competitive, modernizing the plans with the recognition that employees have varying financial priorities. “Overall, we have a very diverse employee base,” says Ken Adams, the financial services company’s vice-president of total rewards. “Someone who is a few years out […]
Canadian employers looking to redesign their benefits plans are in a holding pattern until they hear more details on the Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party’s joint proposed national dental-care and pharmacare programs. Last week, the two parties announced plans to form an alliance until 2025 in order to deliver these programs […]
Nearly half (47 per cent) of employers say their workforce attrition was higher in 2021 than it was in 2020, according to a survey by Rebel & Co. on behalf of Morgan Stanley at Work. The survey, which polled equity leaders from more than 400 global companies, found 32 per cent of respondents are looking […]
Over the next three years, 67 per cent of plan sponsors said they anticipate investing money and/or staff resources in wellness areas outside of their health benefits plan, with 51 per cent focusing on investments in emotional or mental health, according to the 2021 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. It found 14 per cent of plan sponsors […]
Telus Communications Inc. recognizes that all employees manage their health and well-being in different ways, so it allows staff to choose how they use the company’s flexible wellness offering — they can take time off to enjoy a staycation, pay down student loans or top up their health-care spending accounts. “We provide [employees] with credits […]
With many employees pausing paramedical care during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, two benefits experts weigh in on letting workers carry coverage over to 2021. Kevin Mcfadden, president of Mcfadden Benefits In the 30 years I’ve been advising employers in the benefits marketplace, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted our industry unlike any other event. Many positives […]
After a turbulent 2020 brought with it the coronavirus pandemic and a global call for social justice, companies prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion in its wake should start by reviewing their benefits plans to ensure there’s enough flexibility to meet the needs of these times and inclusivity for employees from all backgrounds, says Kim Siddall, […]
Confusion as to what constitutes family status discrimination in Canada continues to vex employers. “The Supreme Court of Canada had an opportunity to create a uniform test across the country in 2019 but chose not to hear the case,” says Gary Clarke, the Calgary and Vancouver-based national co-head of Stikeman Elliott LLP’s employment and labour group. […]
In an art gallery, people often recognize and appreciate the arrangement of the pieces as much as the works of art themselves. When employers offer voluntary benefits, they’re hoping that employees appreciate the offering. Above and beyond that, if plan members recognize the program as a customized suite of benefits that supports their unique needs, even better. Another conclusion […]