In 2020’s Workplace Benefits Awards, the finalists in the mental-health category have a key feature in common — their passion for promoting and supporting employee well-being is grounded in leadership buy-in, regular and empathetic communications and a focus on holistic health. Following a year when, for better or worse, mental health was thrust even further […]
While professional services company Accenture has long been supportive of its working parents, it introduced a new backup childcare program in 2020 to help employees with the challenges precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic. “When the pandemic hit, our working parents found themselves homeschooling their kids while juggling the demands of remote work,” says Susan Goodyer, […]
With the coronavirus pandemic forcing us all into social distancing measures for the majority of 2020, one inevitable side-effect is the substantial growth in our digital interactions. For my part, I’ve caught up with colleagues on Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business, attended a baby shower and a baby naming ceremony over Zoom, bought clothes […]
Like many national retailers, Sleep Country Canada Holdings Inc. has a diverse group of employees across the country, working in more than 250 stores, as well as warehouses and distribution facilities, delivery services and a head office. “The whole point of this was to create a way for us to communicate with our [employees] across […]
Looking back at all of the pension legislation stories we’ve written up during the coronavirus pandemic, I’ve noticed federal and provincial governments definitely favoured defined benefit plans over defined contribution plans in their various temporary regulations. In the first month of the pandemic, the feds halted solvency special payments for federally regulated DB plans until […]
When Assad Mallick joined Cineplex Inc. in June 2019 as vice-president and head of total rewards, one of the mandates of his new role was to set up a new three-part recognition program. With more than 13,000 employees in Canada and the U.S., the entertainment company had a long-standing program recognizing length of service and […]
Defined contribution pensions are taking a bumpy ride in the coronavirus pandemic, with plan sponsors and their members facing volatile stock markets, financial uncertainty and interruptions to business as usual. Whether related to plan design, investment options, decumulation or overall financial well-being and education, what issues are taking the spotlight this year and what changes […]
Coughlan Home’s manager of human resources talks employee assistance programs, ‘quiet rooms’ and showing appreciation. Q. What top challenges do you face in your role? A. Throughout my 15 years in human resources, I’ve found the biggest challenge was encouraging younger generations to begin planning for their retirement. I try to provide scenarios that will […]
KPMG in Canada is introducing an app to help its employees — and other organizations — manage the return-to-work process. The workforce safeguarding app, which was launched this week, aims to accelerate the safe return of employees to their physical workplaces. Designed to create connected experiences with staff and promote health and safety, it includes critical information […]
I’m about to embark on the most exciting and terrifying chapter of my life — by the time you read this, I’ll be more than six months pregnant with my first child. With a decade in the industry, writing and editing stories about work-life balance, it’s now time to face the reality myself and try […]