The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 4554 at Memorial University and the university’s students’ union are ratifying a new four-year collective agreement that includes improvements to employees’ benefits and pay. The agreement includes a new fertility treatment clause that provides time off and financial support for employees seeking treatment, since there’s a lack of fertility […]
With wildfires raging across the country over the past weeks, employers can support affected employees by offering easily accessible tools and resources, flexible work schedules and extended wellness benefits, says Alex Boucher, principal consultant and total health management leader at Mercer Canada. Whether they’ve been removed from their homes or are worrying about smoke inhalation, employees are […]
An article on the federal government’s plan to scrap Canada mortgage bonds and the potential impact on pension funds was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Feds’ plan to discontinue Canada mortgage bonds may limit pension funds’ abilities to mitigate risk: PIAC […]
Changes to the Public Service Health Care Plan, which took effect on July 1, include $75,000 for certain gender affirming procedures not covered by provincial or territorial health-care programs. Other new benefits include: $300 per year each for a registered dietician, occupational therapist and lactation consultant; $200 per year for batteries for hearing aids; $600 per […]
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are esteemed values held by many employers and are table stakes in the value proposition for employees and customers. However, in the context of DEI, ageism and the importance of supporting older workers is rarely mentioned. It’s a complex issue that can have significant consequences on a company’s performance and its […]
Only 41 per cent of Black employees in the U.S. believe their company has an open and inclusive environment that encourages dialogue about mental health, compared to 50 per cent of white employees, according to a new survey by the Hartford and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The survey, which polled more than 2,300 U.S. employees, found […]
The majority (88 per cent) of Canadians employees say the coronavirus pandemic changed how they work in one or more ways, a percentage that increases among employees who work remotely (91 per cent) and those in a hybrid work arrangement (96 per cent), according to a survey conducted by RKI Inc. this spring. The results […]
Canadian employers say competition for talent (84 per cent) is the No. 1 issue influencing their benefits strategies, according to a new survey by WTW. The survey, which polled around 130 employers, found rising mental-health issues (63 per cent), a focus on inclusion and diversity (48 per cent) and rising costs (40 per cent) are […]
Nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of U.S. employees say they’ve experienced harm to their mental health or experienced harassment at work in the past 12 months, compared to 14 per cent in 2022, according to a new survey by the American Psychological Association. The survey, which polled more than 2,500 employees, found 19 per […]
The union representing employees at Montreal-based Canadian Aviation Electronics Ltd. has ratified a five-year agreement that includes retirement and benefits gains. The new agreement includes an early retirement program that allows employees to retire without penalty at the agreed upon time in the second and fourth year, starting at age 58 and meeting the factor […]