The unmet medical needs across Canada are substantial, with the number of Canadians using cannabis for medical needs — close to 15 per cent of individuals over age 16 — one of the best barometers, said Dr. Steven Grover, professor of medicine at McGill University, during Benefits Canada’s 2022 Mental Health Summit in November. “For […]
Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. is providing employees with coverage for egg freezing and expanding some fertility allowances, as well as introducing gender affirmation coverage. “This is something we’re really proud of because it’s part of our global diversity, equity and inclusion strategy,” says Ksenia Kamenskaya, director of people and culture at RBH. “We want […]
A global four-day workweek pilot program has resulted in positive impacts to employee well-being and productivity, according to a new report by Boston College, Cambridge University and University College Dublin. The report analyzed responses from more than 900 employees and 33 employers participating in the six-month program between February and August. It found the vast […]
The vast majority (87 per cent) of small- and medium-sized employers agreed employee mental health is very important to the success of their business, according to a new survey by the Business Development Bank of Canada. The survey, which polled 750 owners of SMEs, found nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) currently place a high priority on […]
An article on the potential impacts of a pension super-priority bill was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Pension super-priority bill passes in House of Commons 2. Ontario municipality establishing six-week indoor mask requirement for city employees 3. CIBC supporting employee health with wellness […]
More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of Canadian employees face a moderate (45 per cent) to high (32 per cent) mental-health risk, according to LifeWorks Inc.’s latest mental-health index. The survey’s respondents reported an overall mental-health score of 64.9, down slightly from 65.1 in September. Apart from financial risk (70.2), all mental-health scores declined from […]
In Canada, the year-over-year cost increase for claims under a medical plan on a per-person basis is projected to reach seven per cent in 2023, according to a new report by Mercer. The report, which analyzed responses from more than 200 insurers across 56 countries, found the global year-over-year cost is expected to increase to […]
Canada has one of the highest incidence rates of inflammatory bowel disease in the world. “We don’t know why, but Canada is one of the hotspots,” said Dr Mark Silverberg, gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto, during a webinar hosted by Benefits Canada and sponsored by Takeda Canada in November. IBD […]
The mayor of a city west of Toronto says municipal employees will have to wear masks for the next six weeks amid rising illnesses among workers and in the wider community. Marianne Meed Ward, the mayor of Burlington, Ont., says masks will be required for all employees in city facilities, with some exceptions, but won’t […]
Two-thirds (68 per cent) of global employers with high levels of employee engagement say they have a well defined diversity, equity and inclusion plan, according to a new survey by Aon. The survey, which polled more than 1,200 benefits and DEI leaders in 55 countries, found while three-quarters (74 per cent) of employers have an […]