Vancouver-based technology company FORM is using swimming to foster employee well-being and improve physical and mental health. The company hosts a team swim day on Tuesdays and a social swim on Fridays, which is more organic and provides employees with more time to connect, says Dan Eisenhardt, the organization’s founder and chief executive officer. “It seemed […]
Once rooted in mental-health support, employee assistance programs have evolved exponentially in recent years to meet the changing needs of employees. During the coronavirus pandemic, the use of virtual care exploded as most people were forced to stay at home, so EAPs had to adapt quickly to provide virtual support to many struggling Canadians. “By […]
The union representing 350 WestJet employees at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport has ratified a 2.5-year collective agreement that includes pension and benefits gains. The agreement enshrines the airline’s savings plan specifically for this group of workers. The plan permits contributions to either a cash savings plan, a group registered retirement savings plan or a group […]
Offering a nine-day fortnight to employees can significantly improve flexibility and work-life balance, says Kim Siddall, national vice-president of account management of mid- and large-sized markets at People Corporation. The concept of a nine-day fortnight, which involves condensing the regular workweek by working five days one week and four days the next, has started to gain popularity […]
Sun Life Financial Inc. is supporting employees working in a hybrid arrangement with its new activity-based, people-focused workspace in Waterloo, Ont. “We’ve been on a journey of rethinking work since before the [coronavirus] pandemic,” says Helena Pagano, executive vice-president, chief people and culture officer at Sun Life. “We knew with changing employee expectations, increasing competition for […]
KPMG in Canada is continuing its Summer Splash program this year to help employees recharge and focus on their well-being. The professional services firm is once again providing eligible employees with five additional paid days off during the summer. However, this year, the extra days off will be in conjunction with long weekends — starting […]
With Yukon implementing a transitioning policy on April 3 to expand the use of biosimilar medicines in its public drug plan, it’s important for benefits plan sponsors that create a similar policy for their workplace plans to be clear in their communication and education with employees. “It’s never easy to switch a medication, especially when […]
Recent amendments to the Quebec Pension Plan to encourage people to work past age 65 offer more flexibility on contributions and retirement age, says Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald, director of financial security research for the National Institute on Ageing at Toronto Metropolitan University. “If people are accumulating a pension, working longer could potentially increase their pension,” says MacDonald, who […]
Thomson Reuters Corp. is introducing a minimum 16-week paid leave for all employees who are welcoming a new child, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or family role. The global policy is part of a wider Thomson Reuters initiative to promote a healthy work-life balance through its Flex My Way program, which also […]
As technology advances and plan members’ needs become more diverse, the relationship between benefits plan sponsors and providers is adapting to fit these changes. Sarah Beech, chief executive officer of benefits and consulting at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., believes the trend of employees wanting more from their employers is the starting point for this […]