A third term for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau means some significant promises with the potential to impact employers and employees may soon become reality. During its campaign, the Liberal Party pledged to support workplace coronavirus vaccination mandates, a national childcare program, expanded public mental-health offerings and a right-to-disconnect policy. On vaccination mandates, the Liberals promised […]
Early in Shannan Corey’s pension career, many of the boards she worked with were dominated by men over the age of 50. Corey, now executive director of the Saskatchewan Pension Plan, recalls one particular board meeting she attended when her company’s actuary, also male, wasn’t able to attend. “I was in my 30s and still […]
With the price of consumer goods, from hot dogs to houses, rising steadily in Canada, some employers are thinking outside the benefits box to help ease the cost of living burden for employees and provide support beyond raising wages. According to Statistics Canada’s latest consumer pricing report, the inflation rate rose 3.7 per cent on […]
When Katie Parkin’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in June, the family was relieved to learn his benefits plan included an opioid management program to help educate members on their pain relief options. Parkin’s organization — Vancouver Island-based Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort and Conference Centre — offers a similar program, which was made available […]
Thierry Miras, Schneider Electric’s vice-president of human resources in Canada, discusses embracing workplace inclusivity, flexible working and the Toronto Raptors. Q. What top challenges do you face in your role? A. The past year has brought unexpected challenges. As we still face uncertainty, one fact remains true: businesses must put employees first. We’re going to […]
While many organizations had to press pause on their hiring plans at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Willful, a Canadian online estate planning company, had to ramp up its hiring efforts during this time. Before the pandemic, all new employees at Willful received a variety of perks, including a $500 annual education budget, summer […]
Walmart Inc. is expanding its benefits to include coverage of doula care for employees under its medical plan in Georgia. The company recently announced it was providing up to US$1,000 per pregnancy for all its employees in the southern U.S. state. For employees to obtain the coverage, the doulas must be credentialed through either DONA […]
School’s out for the summer, which means many working parents are once again juggling remote working with trying to keep their kids occupied during the second summer since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. In a bid to help, Twitter Inc. is continuing to support its working parents through its kids’ camp benefit again this […]
The Ontario-based engineering consultancy firm C.F. Crozier and Associates Inc. is going beyond offering typical benefits, such as eye, dental and mental-health care, and providing employees with $20,000 to use as a down payment on their first home. Nick Mocan, president of C.F. Crozier, says he’d often hear employees relay horror stories of bidding wars […]
When Sun Life Assurance Co.’s employees return to work once the coronavirus pandemic recedes, they’ll be able to choose whether they work at home or in the office thanks to the company’s new flexible work policy. The insurer’s 12,000 employees won’t be required to work from the office any minimum or maximum number of days. Instead, […]