Reader Alert: This is Part 1 in a two-part series. Read Part 2. Addiction, mental illness, unhealthy lifestyles…employee disability can stem from a number of causes. Workplace absences related to these disabilities place a significant burden on Canadian employers, accounting for an estimated 4% to 12% of payroll costs, according to 2002 research from Wilson, Joffe […]
Watch this video While most plan sponsors—and employees—will agree that people should take control of their own health, Chris Bonnett, president of H3 Consulting, suggests employers should also recognize the role they can plan in maintaining and encouraging employee health. “Sometimes it’s surprising for organizations to learn how much is in their control,” he says. […]
Watch this video Views about health and wellness have changed drastically over the years, with recent focus turning specifically to the link between employee wellness and overall business productivity. “The health and wellness of the workforce is intrinsically tied to the health and performance of the work site,” says Cindy Nayer, president, CEO and co-founder […]
Canadians are experiencing increased challenges as they try to address wellness, healthy living and chronic disease, according to Deloitte’s 2011 Survey of Health-care consumers. The study, which surveyed more than 2,300 adult Canadians, found that fewer Canadians are rating their overall health as “excellent” or “very good” (55% compared to 60% in 2009) and that […]
Stress, anxiety, depression and poor social support may be hampering employees’ efforts to achieve wellness goals, says a recent report by employee assistance program (EAP) provider ComPsych Corporation. According to the report, employees suffering from poor emotional health are less likely to adopt healthy lifestyle changes. “There is strong correlation between high stress/emotional issues and […]
Watch this video According to research from the Sun Life Financial health index, more than 80% of Canadians realize they have the opportunity to manage their own health, but 63% are engaging in three or more unhealthy behaviours on a regular basis. Lori Casselman, assistant vice-president, health and productivity solutions for Sun Life Financial, says […]
Corporate wellness programs speak broadly about the overall benefits for businesses, such as how these programs can save companies money while leading to higher employee productivity and increased job satisfaction and morale. The Emera Wellness Guiding Principles not only speaks to these advantages but also demonstrates how—by using its strategies—corporations can create a sustainable, healthy […]
In 2007, the Canadian division of Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) underwent a significant change, revamping its business culture and employee benefits. It was an enormous task, and the corporation faced a number of challenges along the way. Change of direction According to Lynda Newcomb, vice-president, HR, BMS Canada wanted to create an entrepreneurial culture in which […]
Too few people are familiar with metabolic syndrome, but wellness leaders at Ontario Power Generation (OPG) are seeking to amend that with a new employee health awareness campaign. Metabolic syndrome is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle that includes eating too many high-calorie foods, being inactive and gaining weight, particularly around the abdomen where fat cells […]
Watch this video Wellness programs—and the approach employers take to them—have dramatically changed over the past 10 years. Lori Casselman, assistant vice-president of health and productivity solutions at Sun Life Financial, says that wellness programs are no longer considered merely “nice-to-haves.” Rather, they are now seen as a necessity, with more and more employers recognizing […]