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 […]
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 […]
This month marks the two-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring the coronavirus a global pandemic. In some ways, we’ve come a long way since then, but in others, we’re hovering close to where it all started. One thing is for sure: the pandemic continues to create a through line in Benefits Canada’s content […]
The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is launching an industry initiative to pool claims data and use advanced artificial intelligence tools to enhance the detection and investigation of benefits fraud. While all Canadian insurance companies have their own internal analytics to detect fraud within their book of business, the new initiative — led by […]
Sally Phuong took a four-week sabbatical from her job as an account executive at Sun Life Financial Inc. last year so she could participate in a professional floral design program at the Canadian Institute of Floral Design in Toronto. Phuong, 37, plans to retire at 55 from Sun Life and open her own floral store. […]
The top three factors driving employee retention are benefits (34 per cent), a strong sense of culture (31 per cent) and belief in the senior leadership team (29 per cent), according to a new survey by the Predictive Index. The survey, which polled more than 300 U.S. executives, found career mobility (21 per cent), salary (17 […]
Toronto’s Sterling Capital Brokers Ltd. is acquiring Vancouver’s Barclay Insurance Services Inc. Founded in 1990 by Eric Barclay, Barclay Insurance Services focuses on small- to medium-size businesses, developing cost-effective strategies to support plan sponsors in the employee benefits, group retirement and individual insurance space in British Columbia. “We are excited and proud to be the newest addition to the […]
Global consultancy Willis Towers Watson is rebranding as WTW. “Since 2016 we have been known as Willis Towers Watson, the combination of Willis and Towers Watson,” said Carl Hess (pictured), WTW chief executive officer, while leading the Nasdaq’s market opening bell ringing ceremony on Jan. 25. “Now we move forward as WTW, both a celebration […]
As competition to attract talent continues to heat up amid a tight labour market, the vast majority (90 per cent) of U.S. employers are planning to invest more in employee mental-health support, according to a new survey by Wellable. The survey, which polled almost 200 U.S. health insurance brokers and wellness consultants, found slightly more than […]
With many employers taking steps to support their employees’ emotional, financial and physical health during the coronavirus pandemic, the top benefits stories on BenefitsCanada.com in 2021 highlighted some of these innovative initiatives, including among the finalists and winners of this year’s Workplace Benefits Awards. Twitter’s monthly #DaysofRest initiative helping prevent employee burnout amid pandemic RBC […]