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Sun Life Financial is piloting its new wellness rewards website among its workforce before rolling it out widely to its employer clients. Since the program was launched in August, Sun Life’s website has received 43,000 visits. “We’re off to a great start,” says Helena Pagano, executive vice-president and chief human resources and communications officer at […]

  • November 5, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:20

As part of the Ontario government’s new bill amending the Employment Standards Act, it’s bringing back the option for employers to request a medical note from employees taking sick leave, family responsibility leave or bereavement leave. As legislation currently stands, employers may require evidence classified as “reasonable in the circumstances” to prove an employee is eligible to […]

  • October 31, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:30

Perseverance, communication and innovation are just a few of the words used to describe Jeff Aarssen. Aarsseen, the recently retired vice-president of group customer sales at Great-West Life Assurance Co.,  received the award for industry leadership at Benefits Canada’s 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards in Toronto on Oct. 11. “It’s very meaningful, personally,” says Aarssen. “It means that 38 […]

  • October 30, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00

An increased focus on early intervention led Staples Canada to the mental-health award at Benefits Canada’s 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards in Toronto on Oct. 11.  After noticing that mental health was becoming a larger issue within the organization, Staples adopted the national standard for psychological health and safety in the workplace, created its own psychological health and […]

  • October 25, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:45

CGI Group Inc. hosted its 11th annual global walking event at the end of September, connecting its commitment to employee health and well-being with charitable activities. During the event, called Walk Around the World, employees were encouraged to get out and walk for 30 minutes, but also take some time for themselves and connect with their colleagues. […]

  • October 23, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:00

Focusing on finding the right harmony in communicating a new benefits plan was key in Samuel, Son & Co.’s win for best benefits plan communications at Benefits Canada’s 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards in Toronto on Oct. 11. The steel company admitted it can’t afford to offer above average benefits due to the cyclical nature of its business. However, it felt an average […]

  • October 23, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00

Taking a varied and thorough approach to employee health helped Niagara Casinos take home the award for best health and wellness program for an employer with more than 1,000 employees at Benefits Canada‘s 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards in Toronto on Oct. 11. The variety of wellness offerings and activities included kickboxing, paddle boarding, bath bomb workshops, an onsite […]

  • October 22, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:40

Promoting health and wellness as a business priority and effectively communicating this to the workforce was the Town of Richmond Hill’s recipe for success at Benefits Canada’s 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards. The organization took home the award for best health and wellness program for a company with less than 1,000 employees at a ceremony in Toronto on Oct. 11. […]

  • October 18, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00

Earlier this month, Ontario premier Doug Ford announced in the provincial legislature that he would be axing Bill 148, an assortment of changes to the Employment Standards Act that the former Liberals put in place this year. Highlights of the bill included a raise to the minimum wage; a mandate of equal pay for equal work; personal emergency […]

  • October 12, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:15

Last year, Ceridian HCM Inc. began allowing its Canadian and American employees to take two hours off for any reason without manager approval. The program was introduced as a pilot, initially covering the period between late May and Labour Day, says Lisa Sterling, chief people and culture officer at the organization’s U.S. headquarters in Minneapolis. […]

  • October 12, 2018 March 11, 2021
  • 08:59