While gender affirmation and fertility benefits coverage still isn’t included in all group benefits plans, around half of Canada’s group benefits providers include gender affirmation coverage (50 per cent) or fertility benefits coverage (59 per cent) in some of their plan offers, according to an exclusive survey by Benefits Canada. The survey, which polled Canada’s […]
Just like professional athletes, employees have to balance high performance with periods of rest. To this end, Shopify Inc. introduced its Intermission program in 2018 to ensure workers aren’t burning out. “We must feed our mind and body with good input to achieve good output,” says Kelly Dawson, the organization’s global lead for wellness and […]
As technology advances and plan members’ needs become more diverse, the relationship between benefits plan sponsors and providers is adapting to fit these changes. Sarah Beech, chief executive officer of benefits and consulting at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., believes the trend of employees wanting more from their employers is the starting point for this […]
The coronavirus pandemic ushered in a new world of work when organizations in most sectors were forced to find ways to operate virtually. Three years later, many employees — especially younger generations — want these flexible working options to stay. “Like many other firms, our employee demographic is mostly made up of millennials and [generation] […]
Employee absences and presenteeism are costing Canadian employers nearly $645 million annually, according to a new report by Manulife Financial Corp. The report — which analyzed data from nearly 50 Manulife group benefits plan sponsor clients, as well as survey responses from more than 4,900 employees — found an average of 48 days per employee were […]
While U.S. workers aged 45 and older believe it takes, on average, $1.1 million in savings to retire comfortably, just 21 per cent expect to reach this goal, down from 24 per cent in 2022, according to a new survey by Schroders. The survey, which polled more than 2,000 employees, found more than half (59 […]
A 2023 federal budget proposal to require employers to report dental coverage as part of the national dental-care program will be onerous on plan sponsors and still leaves more questions than answers, says Pam Martin, vice-president and senior consultant at Baynes & White Inc. Since dental benefits are important to an individual’s mental health, the federal government […]
Like many millennials, 30-year-old Sennah Yee has a few side hustles — she writes books, plays and has started a magazine with friends. Yee, a content writer at Juno College, transitioned to a four-day workweek last year, which she says has helped both her mental and physical health. Like many white-collar workers, she made the […]
Two in five (43 per cent) Canadian employees say they’re concerned about their financial future, according to Telus Health’s latest mental-health index. Nearly half (45 per cent) of respondents said they feel overwhelmed by debt, with this group reporting the lowest mental-health (53.4) and financial well-being (48.1) scores. Indeed, the report found Canadians’ mental-health score […]
By focusing on cancer as part of a wider chronic disease management strategy, employers can support employee health while reducing benefits costs, said Chris Bonnett, founder and principal at H3 Consulting, during a webinar hosted by the Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute. While long-term disability plans pay out, on average, $3,500 per month, cancer patients […]