Debra Whitman was traveling for work when her father was suddenly admitted to the hospital in serious pain. She jetted home to Maryland and took several days off to care for him in his rural community in eastern Washington state and to set him up with a motorized lift chair that would help him stand […]
When some employees daydream about getting a break from work, they might picture two weeks of vacation or a long weekend getaway. But some people dare to imagine something bigger and find ways to get a substantial breather from stress or their day-to-day routines. Mini-sabbaticals. Adult gap years. Micro-retirement. Extended career breaks go by many names and […]
With demand for skilled workers in Northern Ontario, Yukon and Nunavut expected to rise sharply over the next two decades, such projections are highlighting challenges for employers in these regions as they rethink workforce development, says Andy Moorhouse, vice-president of economic development at Makivvik, a Quebec-based organization supporting the Inuit of Nunavik. While much of […]
Employers that have implemented a four-day workweek or an equivalent reduced-hours model are reporting improved employee productivity along with sharp reductions in turnover and overtime costs, according to a report by 4-day Week Global. It argued among organizations that implemented reduced-hours models — including four-day workweeks, six-hour shifts and 32-hour workweeks — work wasn’t compressed […]
An article on how winter weather impacts employers’ return-to-office and hybrid work policies was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Winter weather exposing cracks in return-to-office flexibility: expert 2. Tribunal rules employer’s conduct creating emotional discomfort […]
Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of Canadian job seekers expect it will be difficult to find a job in the next six months, a significant increase from the same time last year (62 per cent), according to a new survey by the Harris Poll on behalf of Express Services Inc. The survey, which polled more […]
Two-thirds (65 per cent) of Canadian workers say their manager’s support for work-life balance hasn’t changed over the past year, while a quarter (24 per cent) say it has improved and 12 per cent say their manager is less supportive, according to Telus Health’s latest mental-health index. The survey, which polled roughly 3,000 employees, found […]
Nearly nine in 10 (86 per cent) Canadian chief human resources officers say their influence is at an all-time high, as human resources becomes a central driver of productivity, talent strategy and business performance heading into 2026, according to a new survey by International Workplace Group. The survey, which polled more than 260 CHROs, found […]
Employers can help young employees transition from the classroom to the workplace by being clear about the skills they’re looking for, says Gemma Kenyon, director of careers and employability at City St. George’s, University of London. “We hear from students that there’s a lot of different language around skills and expectations, so I think being […]
With many companies mandating returns to onsite offices, a disconnect has been gradually building in how employers are approaching remote and hybrid work versus their employees. According to Benefits Canada’s 2025 Future of Work Survey, nearly half (48 per cent) of employees reported working fully onsite, while roughly a third (33 per cent) were in […]