While nearly all (97 per cent) large U.S. employers say they offer mental-health coverage, fewer than half (47 per cent) of employers are measuring whether these benefits are delivering timely, effective care, according to a new survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. The survey, which polled more than 400 employers, found just 22 per […]
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 […]
While society’s understanding of women’s health has significantly evolved in the last few years, employee benefits plans haven’t yet caught up. “We expect men and women to interact with their plan in the same way and that’s just not true,” said Erika Hatherly, strategic leader for drug programs, group benefits and retirement solutions at iA […]
With many Canadian employers likely to have employees go on leave related to cancer, one survey suggests they need guidance on how to support those plan members before, during and after their leave, according to Julie Holmes, senior advisor for disability management at Desjardins Insurance, during Benefits Canada’s 2025 Toronto Benefits Summit. The survey, by […]
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] […]
When Priya*, a 38-year-old consultant at a mid-sized professional services firm, realized the timing wasn’t right to have children, she began exploring egg freezing as a way to preserve her options. Like many women balancing career goals, personal circumstances and the realities of fertility, she saw it as a proactive step towards building the future […]
In a year marked by an ongoing trade war and threats of tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump and against a backdrop of rising costs, Canadian employers are reconsidering their total rewards and talent management strategies. “A lot more attention is being paid to total rewards, such as how we’re paying people,” says compensation and […]
Burnout is on the rise among Canadian employees, costing employers between $5,500 and $28,500 per worker each year, according to a new survey by Mental Health Research Canada, Workplace Strategies for Mental Health and the Canada Life Assurance Co. The survey, which polled more than 5,000 employees, found two-fifths (39 per cent) said they’ve felt […]
At the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, truth and reconciliation isn’t a side project, it’s a core value, says Alicia Flynn, the organization’s human resources manager. “We know that working with Indigenous Peoples, learning from Indigenous knowledge and applying those learnings to our work are critical to successfully implementing Canada’s plan for the long-term management of […]
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 […]