What can each person do to create a community of caring where people feel connected, supported and cared for? That’s a question the University of Calgary is intent on finding answers to. Mental well-being is a critical issue, since one in five people in Canada will experience a mental-health issue in any given year, said Katie […]
With complex situations a challenge when it comes to return-to-work planning, an active commitment to accommodation is important, according to a speaker at Benefits Canada’s Calgary Benefits Summit. “First, you need to promote accommodation to mitigate risk,” said Judith Plotkin, vice-president of growth and strategy at ReedGroup. If they don’t provide accommodation, she noted, employers […]
While plan sponsors face significant pressures from rising drug costs, it’s important to consider the full range of tools available that will allow them to continue to offer the coverage employees need, participants at Benefits Canada’s Calgary Benefits Summit heard. “Prescription drugs are the No. 1 benefit that employees value as part of their health […]
Between trouble falling asleep and chronic insomnia, 40 per cent of adults in Canada experience sleep issues, according to information presented at Benefits Canada’s Calgary Benefits Summit in April. “As plan sponsors, we should be very concerned,” says Josée Dixon, senior vice-president of group and business insurance at Desjardins Insurance, during a presentation at the […]
Canadian employers face a range of obligations around helping employees with disabilities to return to work. What are some of the ways they can meet that obligation? “In order to meet this obligation, plan sponsors should work in good faith, with the employee and the insurer, to bring the employee back,” said Dr. Arif […]
Given the challenges that plan sponsors and the benefits industry are facing, it’s time for the various players to embrace innovation, according to Mark Rolnick, vice-president of payor partnerships and plan sponsor innovation at Shoppers Drug Mart. And pharmacies, Rolnick told participants at the Calgary Benefits Summit in April, have a key role to play. […]
Inflammatory bowel disease is among the fastest-growing conditions in Canada, affecting one in 150 Canadians. According to a recent study, the direct cost of inflammatory bowel disease is $1.2 billion a year. And that’s only part of the picture. “It is the disease, rather than the treatment, that is financially burdensome,” Dr. Cynthia Seow, assistant […]
After two years of recession, economists are predicting a modest return to growth in Alberta this year. But companies still face fiscal constraints that can pose challenges for their benefits plans. What can employers do to support growth and how can they re-energize employees and restore company morale? Presenters at the recent Calgary Benefits Summit […]
Chartered professional accountant Chris Coben wanted to work internationally so he could experience how a different country approaches the type of work he does. At the same time, he was looking for an opportunity to travel. That’s why Coben, an audit manager at Collins Barrow Calgary LLP, headed to Britain on an international secondment program […]
Inflammatory bowel disease is on the rise, particularly among children. And at a cost to the Canadian economy of approximately $2.8 billion a year, early intervention is key, a doctor told Benefits Canada’s Calgary Drug Trends Summit. “The whole idea with IBD now is to treat patients early on in their disease,” said Dr. Yvette […]