Employers are applying several lessons from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to their benefits offerings, particularly the importance of employee well-being and access to virtual health care, says Marie-Josée Le Blanc, a partner and innovation leader at Mercer Canada. “Before the pandemic, there were two types of organizations: those that were doing more to support well-being […]
As employers begin rebuilding the workplace once the coronavirus pandemic recedes, their group benefits plan will be their best tool — and ally — to help employees regain their health and wellness footing, said Jennifer Katzsch, regional vice-president of Western Canada at Desjardins Insurance during Benefits Canada‘s 2021 Benefits & Pension Summit. As with past crises, […]
Starbucks Canada is connecting employees across the country through stories of Asian-Canadians’ contributions to the nation’s history and highlighting Pan-Asian employees’ shared personal and career experiences for Asian Heritage Month and beyond. “There’s a large Asian population of partners within Starbucks and the communities in which we serve,” says Sonia Lam, a district manager at […]
While Canadians’ mental health continues to suffer, LifeWorks Inc.’s monthly index has seen some improvements, including in its anxiety and psychological health sub-categories. The index reported a negative 10.7 overall mental-health score for April, slightly higher than negative 11.2 for March. In addition, the majority of sub-scores showed improvements over the previous month. The anxiety […]
Half of Canadians said they’ve increased their use of virtual health care since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey by consulting firm Calian Group Ltd. It also found, while 49 per cent of respondents said they intend to continue using virtual care after the pandemic is over and safety precautions […]
While the rates of drug and disability claims are returning to their pre-pandemic levels, employers are still contending with the impact of the coronavirus crisis on their benefits plans. Following the declaration of the pandemic in March 2020, there was a subsequent surge in drug claims attributed to medication stockpiling, said Frédéric Leblanc, strategic advisor […]
Lafarge Eastern Canada’s new employee wellness program is highlighting the importance of mental and physical health amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “It was always my intention to promote wellness through my communications, but when the pandemic happened, it was really the time to focus on this,” says Jessica Assaf, manager of corporate communications for Lafarge […]
For most Canadians, it’s been well over a year since most of the country went into its first lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. I don’t think we truly understood what was going to happen back in March 2020, or the impact it would have on our personal and professional lives. But during the 15th […]
Morneau Shepell Ltd. is rebranding under the name LifeWorks Inc. The company announced its intention to rebrand in March, which was subsequently approved by its shareholders following a vote at the company’s annual meeting on May 14. Read: Morneau Shepell rebranding as LifeWorks “By connecting the two words — life and work — the purpose of our organization is made […]
Employees in Canada working from home as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are paying a “COVID tax,” as a result of working additional hours during these tumultuous times, according to a survey from ADP Inc. and the Angus Reid Institute. The survey, which polled more than 1,500 full- and part-time working Canadians in April, […]