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 […]
Nova Scotia is introducing new workplace harassment regulations effective Sept. 1. The legislation will require all provincially regulated employers to adopt a written anti-harassment policy, train staff and review the policy every three years. According to a press release, psychological workplace injuries in Nova Scotia rose to 194 in 2024, up from 150 three years […]
An article on a lawsuit filed by Ontario Provincial Police recruits against the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System and the Ontario Pension 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. OPP recruits suing OMERS, OPB over […]
The theme of this year’s Mental Health Week — Unmasking Mental Health — is a reminder that many people in the workplace feel pressured to hide their mental-health struggles, often for fear of the stigma they’ll face, to protect their job security, avoid discrimination and fit in with workplace norms and culture. While masking can […]
Amid ongoing geopolitical tension, the U.S. trade war and the rising cost of living, it’s important for employers to provide a psychological safe workplace, says Alan King, president and chief executive officer of consultancy Workplace Options. “There’s a level of uncertainty that comes when you hear and experience the things that are going on. But […]
While microaggressions — intentional or unintentional verbal or nonverbal acts toward a person that reinforces stereotypes — are unfortunately common in many workplaces, the municipal government of Dufferin County is taking several measures to minimize these incidents. “The word ‘micro’ doesn’t give these aggressions the kind of weight they deserve, because they are very impactful […]
It’s been nearly two years since I slept through the night — my 15-month-old daughter is still waking up to nurse and I wasn’t sleeping consistently in the nine months before her birth due to typical pregnancy symptoms. I’m very tired, the kind of fatigue you just take for granted and roll into your overall […]
Most Canadian benefits plan sponsors (89 per cent) and members (73 per cent) agree their workplace environment supports mental wellness, according to the 2024 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. On the converse, about a quarter (27 per cent) of plan members disagreed. Despite the mostly positive perspectives, a quarter is still a significant portion of the […]
While the conversation around mental-health benefits is typically focused on coverage levels, it’s important for employers to unpack the entire mental-health bucket and consider the impacts of other factors like psychological safety and diversity, equity and inclusion. Paula Allen, global leader and vice-president of research and client insights at Telus Health, says there’s a great […]
As employers reframe or move away from diversity, equity and inclusion programs, it’s important they remember employee belonging is at the core of these initiatives, says Farzeen Mawji, national practice leader for inclusion and diversity at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. “[These programs] are about creating environments where everyone has the opportunity to bring their […]