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How family-building benefits can support employee well-being, retention

Family-building benefits can go a long way in supporting employers’ attraction and retention efforts, says David Krieger, regional vice-president of benefits consulting at BFL Canada. “Employees are looking for their employers to provide more support in all aspects of their lives, including building their families. We’re also seeing surrogacy coverage becoming more prevalent in Canada […]

  • February 21, 2024 February 20, 2024
  • 09:00

Redbrick highlighting DEI through employee-led discussions, education sessions

Redbrick is highlighting diversity, equity and inclusion through employee-led discussions and education sessions, beginning with a focus on Black History Month in February. The Victoria, B.C.-based technology company is currently revamping its DEI strategy, which includes an internal network called ‘DRIVE’ — short for diversity, reconciliation, inclusivity, visibility and equity, says Basil Onyia, senior people […]

  • February 15, 2024 February 14, 2024
  • 09:00

Comparing workplace mental-health supports around the world

Although mental health is approached differently in workplaces around the globe, most multinational employers want to ensure a continuity of care and maintain a similar experience for all employees, while respecting local cultural and legal considerations. For Scotiabank, these considerations include focusing on what types of support are needed, what the employee experience is going […]

  • February 9, 2024 February 8, 2024
  • 08:58

CLHIA focusing on improving pharmacare, rare disease drug coverage in 2024

In the year ahead, the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association will continue its advocacy efforts to ensure the federal government’s proposed pharmacare plan extends coverage for those who lack benefits without disrupting workplace benefits that millions of working Canadians rely on, says Stephen Frank, the association’s president and chief executive officer. The right approach to […]

  • January 29, 2024 January 30, 2024
  • 09:00

Employers can use Bell Let’s Talk Day to normalize mental-health discussions, taking leave: expert

Employers can use Bell Let’s Talk Day to normalize talking about mental health and reflect on whether they’re ‘walking the talk,’ says Janet Candido, founder and principal at Candido Consulting Group. “Some employers I work with say, ‘Mental health is important to us,’ but then you might see the executive team rolling their eyes when they […]

  • January 24, 2024 January 23, 2024
  • 09:00

Tax credit could ensure national dental-care plan doesn’t displace employer-sponsored coverage: expert

With the new Canadian Dental Care Plan rolling out, it’s critical that it doesn’t displace existing employer-sponsored dental coverage, says Stephen Frank, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association. He believes a tax credit would be an optimal solution that would go a long way towards encouraging employers not […]

  • January 17, 2024 January 16, 2024
  • 09:00

Employers can improve benefits communication, highlight mental-health support for ‘Blue Monday’

Employers can use the time surrounding ‘Blue Monday’ to ensure they’re communicating properly with employees and highlighting mental-health supports, says Gianna Ricciardi, vice-president and practice leader at Vita Assure Inc. Blue Monday — typically the third Monday in January — is considered to be the saddest day of the year because the combination of dreary weather […]

  • January 15, 2024 January 12, 2024
  • 09:00

Highest-cost drugs reimbursed by Canadian public plans in 2021/22 were rare disease treatments: report

The 10 highest-cost drugs reimbursed by public drug plans in Canada in the 2021/22 fiscal year were all rare disease treatments with annual treatment costs of more than $250,000, according to a new report by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. It found the increased use of high-cost drugs continued to be the main factor […]

  • January 9, 2024 January 8, 2024
  • 09:00

Willful expanding bereavement leave to provide employees with additional support, flexibility

Canadian online estate planning company Willful is expanding its bereavement policy to provide more employee support and flexibility. Employees are allowed up to 15 consecutive business days of paid leave to mourn a family member, 10 days for a close friend and three days for a pet. Through the nature of their work, Willful’s employees are very familiar […]

  • January 5, 2024 January 4, 2024
  • 09:00

My Take: Obesity should be treated like other chronic conditions under benefits plans

As someone who has become increasingly overweight in the last few years, every time I read or write about obesity being referred to as a ‘lifestyle condition’ it makes me physically cringe. Yes, some poor diet choices have contributed to my current physical condition, but it’s much more complex than that. And I know others […]

  • January 3, 2024 January 2, 2024
  • 09:00