Admiral Insurance’s comprehensive approach to employee wellness led to a win (tied with one other employer) in the Health/Wellness Program category for employers with fewer than 1,000 employees at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards. The organization’s health benefits plan includes a personal wellness account that provides $500 annually for employees and their dependants. In […]
The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan was a winner at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards for its absence management program, which excels because the organization manages its benefits plan, wellness program and disability support in the same portfolio. According to one judge, the HOOPP’s prevention and return-to-work practices are leading edge because of the […]
While climate change is exacerbating employees’ pre-existing health challenges, workers aren’t always making the link between these health impacts and the support provided in their group benefits plan, says Marie-Chantal Côté, senior vice-president at Sun Life Health. “Employers have a great opportunity to continue to support employees by raising awareness of the supports available. A […]
In both an in-person and virtual format on Sept. 16, the inaugural Toronto Benefits Summit brought together more than 300 employers, consultants, industry providers and other key stakeholders for a full day of exploring trends in the benefits and wellness space. The packed agenda, which was presented to a sold-out room, included panel discussions presenting […]
In response to growing awareness and incidences of anxiety, Ontario-based Symcor Inc. is hosting a webinar this month to help employees recognize and manage the condition. “Based on surveys and reports, we can see anxiety is a very common condition,” says Rachel Wong, the company’s vice-president of total rewards and human resources technology. “[This webinar] […]
The Canadian Cancer Society estimates 30,500 women and 290 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, with about 5,500 Canadians expected to die from the disease. For employers, the numbers show how often breast cancer intersects with the workplace and why clear, compassionate support is critical. At BDO Canada, support begins the moment […]
An article on an arbitrator’s confirmation of the long-term disability exception to Ontario’s mandatory retirement rule 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 arbitrator confirms validity of LTD exception to mandatory retirement rule 2. Insurers […]
Canada’s life and health insurers paid out a record $143.3 billion in health and retirement benefits last year, up from $128 billion in 2023, according to the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association’s annual fact book. “At a time when our country is facing economic uncertainty and our health-care system is under strain, life and […]
An Ontario arbitrator has confirmed the validity of the long-term disability exception to the mandatory retirement rule. When Ontario eliminated mandatory retirement in 2006, the legislation provided an exception for insured employment benefit plans to maintain a cutoff based on age. “This was intended to avoid destabilizing existing insurance plans while still permitting parties to […]
Three in five (60 per cent) plan members would choose an extra $10,000 in cash per year over their benefits plan, according to the 2025 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. The survey asked half of 1,000 plan member respondents whether they’d rather receive their benefits plan or an extra $5,000 in cash per year, while the […]