Does your organization’s mental health or diversity program deserve recognition? Are you leading the way when it comes to drug and benefits plan innovation? Is your company’s pension performance award-worthy? Benefits Canada’s annual Workplace Benefits Awards is officially open for nominations. Submit your entries here. The 2019 awards will continue to honour the triumphs and […]
Though I don’t consider myself particularly tech-savvy, I use my smartphone and laptop in every avenue of my life. I communicate via email, text, social media and FaceTime. I shop online with the click of a mouse. I arrange travel through my smartphone, whether ordering a car or booking and boarding a flight. I use […]
Since the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation introduced online cognitive behavioural therapy, nearly 3,000 plan members have signed up to use it. The mobile-friendly program is provided by B.C.-based Starling Minds. It found those who’ve used the online CBT reported reduced anxiety, sadness and worry. As well, some 71 per cent indicated they were less likely to spend time away from work as a […]
Mental illness and problems with mental health cost employers $20 billion annually, and it’s the cause of one in every three claims for short- and long-term disability, according to a study by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. It’s no wonder mental health remains an area of focus for Canadian employers. While they grapple with how to tackle […]
The government of Ontario is launching an integrated support program to help people who suffer from work-related stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. Ontario Provincial Police officers and their families will be at the centre of the program. “The unique challenges and demands our brave men and women in uniform experience on the job when protecting our […]
The Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace and MyWorkplaceHealth.com founder Joti Samra are launching an online tool aimed at helping employers assess their leaders’ ability to foster psychologically safe workplaces. The tool can be used by employers to evaluate how they implement and promote communication and collaboration, social intelligence, problem solving and conflict management, safety […]
It’s estimated by the Mental Health Commission of Canada that 1.2 million children and youth in Canada are affected by mental illness, but less than 20 per cent will receive the appropriate treatment. But I don’t need the numbers to know about the crisis facing our youth when it comes to mental-health issues. I’ve been living […]
Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. is partnering with Acclaim Ability Management Inc. to offer one-on-one coaching services to employees on short-term disability leave with mental-health issues. With the goal of getting their employees back to work sooner, employers can choose between two offerings to lower the risk of STD turning into a long-term disability leave. “We’re taking employee support to the […]
While 72 per cent of Canadian employers said they expect to differentiate their benefits programs for recruitment and retention in the next three years, just 12 per cent currently do so, according to a new survey by Willis Towers Watson. It found 60 per cent of employers now offer flexible benefits, and this is set […]
It’s impossible to avoid the simple truth that people get sick, which often keeps them away from work. But which specific health conditions are keeping employees from doing their jobs? The usual suspects Plan sponsors don’t typically capture the reason for a casual absence in terms of a medical condition, says Paula Allen, vice-president of […]