A series of major winter storms that shut down highways, closed schools and prompted travel warnings across parts of Ontario is renewing scrutiny of how employers apply return-to-office policies during emergency situations. During a severe snowstorm earlier this month, an internal memo sent to Ontario public servants by the provincial Ministry of Transportation indicated they […]
The organization’s total rewards manager talks family-building benefits, supporting younger workers’ well-being and the joys of online chess. Q: What new programs or initiatives are you looking to implement? A: In alignment with our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we’re expanding our family-building and support programs to better meet the evolving needs of our […]
Admiral Insurance’s comprehensive approach to employee wellness led to a win (tied with one other employer) in the Health/Wellness Program category for employers with fewer than 1,000 employees at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards. The organization’s health benefits plan includes a personal wellness account that provides $500 annually for employees and their dependants. In […]
An article on recent private equity investments by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. CPPIB increases stake in environmental services firm, receives approval for energy provider takeover 2. Solvency […]
Bunzl Canada Inc. is supporting employee engagement while giving back to local communities through its paid volunteer days program. “The program was born out of a movement to create a social sustainability initiative aimed at fostering community engagement, environmental stewardship and an inclusive workplace culture,” says John Howlett, president of Bunzl Canada. “It reflects our […]
Canadian public sector employees continue to outpace private sector workers in defined benefit pension plan membership, according to a new report by the Fraser Institute. It found 86.7 per cent of Canadian public sector workers were covered by a registered pension plan compared to only 21.8 per cent in the private sector, citing data from […]
Burnout is on the rise among Canadian employees, costing employers between $5,500 and $28,500 per worker each year, according to a new survey by Mental Health Research Canada, Workplace Strategies for Mental Health and the Canada Life Assurance Co. The survey, which polled more than 5,000 employees, found two-fifths (39 per cent) said they’ve felt […]
More than half (59 per cent) of U.S. workers say they feel some form of anxiety when it comes to taking time off, according to a new survey by LiveCareer. The survey, which polled more than 1,000 U.S. workers, found a third (33 per cent) said they feel pressure not to use all their paid […]
Two-fifths (40 per cent) of employees say they’ve called in sick when they weren’t actually ill to extend a weekend or attend a social event during the summer, according to a new survey by Dayforce Inc. The survey — which polled more than 2,000 full-time workers in North America and the U.K., including 479 Canadian […]
Amid global economic volatility contributing to reduced hiring, rising rates of employee burnout aren’t surprising, says Tara Parry, director of permanent placement services at Robert Half Canada. A survey of 1,500 employees by the consultancy found roughly half (47 per cent) said they’re experiencing burnout, up from 42 per cent in 2024 and 33 per […]