Indigo Books & Music Inc. is offering paid sick leave for employees that test positive for coronavirus during an eight-week screening program led by the Ontario Ministry of Health. This includes employees at the company’s distribution centres, retail locations and head office, according to a press release, which noted the retailer hasn’t experienced any transmission […]
After a turbulent 2020 brought with it the coronavirus pandemic and a global call for social justice, companies prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion in its wake should start by reviewing their benefits plans to ensure there’s enough flexibility to meet the needs of these times and inclusivity for employees from all backgrounds, says Kim Siddall, […]
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is continuing to feel heat from opposition politicians calling for the provincial government to reinstate paid sick days on the heels of a new lockdown aimed at flattening the coronavirus pandemic’s second wave. While the federal government currently offers paid sick leave via its Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit program, critics argue […]
Employers in the U.S. are changing policies related to vacation and paid time off in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. In a bid to help with recruitment and retention during these tumultuous times, nearly three-quarters of employers said they’re granting vacation or paid time […]
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, Canadian employers are balancing the need to reduce benefits costs while focusing on employee well-being, according to a new survey by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Just over half (55 per cent) of respondents said controlling costs is their top benefits-related challenge this year, with many considering measures such as variable cost […]
Scotiabank is introducing a program that will allow benefits-eligible Canadian employees to purchase up to five additional personal days. The program is effective April 1, 2021, which marks the beginning of the bank’s benefits plan year. Employees can use their flex credits during benefits enrolment to purchase the additional days. The latest benefit is in addition to […]
The union representing General Motors of Canada Co. employees in Ontario have ratified a new three-year collective agreement that removes changes to a legacy defined benefit plan as part of ongoing pension discussions. The deal restores the legacy DB plan by removing a member contribution requirement and a 30-year cap on credited service introduced in […]
Scotiabank secured its second win at Benefits Canada‘s 2020 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 16 for adapting its existing benefits and introducing new resources to support employees in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. In the Coronavirus and Benefits category for an employer with more than 5,000 employees, the bank’s entry outlined how it transitioned 60 […]
U.S. employers are planning to maintain core health benefits but are exploring other changes to preserve jobs and manage expenses, according to new a new survey by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. The survey, which looked at data from nearly 4,000 employers over several months, found close to half have planned salary freezes for management and executives (43 per cent) and non-management […]
Globally mobile employees may be feeling more discouragement, burnout and stress during the coronavirus pandemic compared to their domestic peers. Indeed, outside of the crisis, expatriate employees are generally more prone to these hurdles, said Nancy Brown, national sales director for Canada at Metlife Worldwide Benefits, in a session at Benefits Canada‘s 2020 Plan Sponsor Week earlier […]