A new year is bringing back old issues for employers and employees alike. The rise of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant meant many students once again switched to online schooling. And while some schools across Canada are now reopening, employers continue to use a combination of flexible schedules and benefits offerings to support working […]
How the City of Toronto is continuing to support employee mental health in these uncertain times took the top spot over the past week on BenefitsCanada.com. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. How the City of Toronto is supporting employee mental health in 2022 and beyond 2. Why CPP premiums are getting […]
With the Omicron coronavirus variant prompting school closures and a return to remote learning in several provinces, flexibility is key for employers supporting parents of school-age children, says Kim Siddall, vice-president of enterprise consulting for the west at People Corporation. “This means being flexible with the changing environment, because things are shifting without a lot […]
While the dawn of 2022 brings hope of the coronavirus pandemic becoming endemic, the year ahead is also filled with many unknowns for both employers and employees to navigate. Many organizations, including the City of Toronto, are planning on bringing white-collar staff back to the office after some spent nearly two years working from home. […]
As 2021 winds down, I have a few predictions of the human resources trends for employers to keep top of mind in 2022. Employers finding ways to improve diversity, equity and inclusion will continue to be a vital area of focus. While some employers have drafted or adopted DEI policies in recent years, it’s important […]
Significant disparities exist between U.S. employers’ and employees’ perceptions of workplace mental-health support, according to a new survey by Lighthouse Research & Advisory. When employers and employees were asked to rank their organization’s support for mental health on a scale of one to 10, the average employer ranking was 7.6, while the average employee ranking […]
Patagonia Inc. is giving all of its North American employees an additional week of paid time off this holiday season. The clothing retailer’s customer service and distribution centres will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2, while its stores and offices will close between Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, according to a press release. […]
The percentage of Canadians taking all of their allotted vacation time increased to 27 per cent in 2021, compared to 2020 when 20 per cent said they used all of their vacation days, according to a new survey by Maru Public Opinion for ADP Canada Co. For the first time since 2017, the “time-off tax” — an […]
Roughly a quarter (23 per cent) of Canadians working exclusively at physical workplaces said their working lives have worsened since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, according to LifeWorks Inc.’s latest mental-health index. The survey — which was conducted between Nov. 9 and Nov. 22, 2021 and prior to the spread of the Omicron variant […]
When Kris Dalrymple (pictured) decided to come out as transgender at work he was a bit worried about the reaction. But those fears quickly disappeared after he sent out a company-wide email chronicling his journey to outwardly living as the person he feels like on the inside. “The second the email came out, it was […]