The hepatitis C hump is over. Since 2014, Health Canada has approved several promising medications for the disease. While the direct-acting antivirals offer cure rates of more than 90 per cent, they cost tens of thousands of dollars, and benefits plans felt the pinch. But now, “after an initial spike in treatment requests, claims have […]
While many employers are including wearable devices in their wellness programs to encourage employees to track their health outcomes, one technology giant was granted two patents at the end of January for wearable tracking systems that monitor employee performance. The devices aren’t yet in use by the technology giant, but if they’re implemented, warehouse employees would wear wristbands that communicate […]
Canada’s demographic picture has changed significantly since the launch of the Canada Pension Plan in 1966. With census data showing more single-person households, is it time for the CPP and other defined benefit pension plans to update their plan design to reflect the new realities? Provincial legislation typically requires defined benefit plans to provide survivor pensions to […]
One summer, as a university student in the mid-1970s, Frances Gallop was working at a restaurant where the manager sexually harassed nearly every female employee. “I don’t think any of us had even heard the term sexual harassment. We just knew that his behaviour was very obnoxious and unwanted,” says Gallop, now a partner at […]
Enrolling new employees in life insurance policies can involve a number of steps for employers. Not only do they have to ensure workers understand their coverage options and are comfortable with the premiums, but they may have to drive across the province to collect their signatures. “I have a case where [the client has] about 45 employees, and […]
Looking to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Vancouver? That’ll set you back more than $3,000 a month, according to recent reports. If it’s time to buy, recent figures put the price of the average detached house in the Vancouver area at a cool $1.6 million. Understandably, many people can’t make those prices work, which can […]
More than 2,500 Canadians died from opioid-related overdoses in 2016, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The situation is particularly grave in the West. This year, British Columbia alone is on track to see 1,400 deaths due to opioids. The province declared a state of emergency in April 2016, and Alberta followed suit […]
In one episode of the television show The Office, salesman Stanley Hudson has a heart attack during a workplace fire drill. A few days later, he’s back at his desk, with only a doctor’s orders to “relate more positively” to his surroundings. Many employers can only dream of such an easy return to work. In […]
The Co-operators Group Ltd.’s revamped mental-health program, including an online forum for employees, was central to its win in the category at Benefits Canada’s 2017 Workplace Benefits Awards in Toronto on Oct. 12. Last year, the company launched a mental-health strategy to both support employees struggling with psychological problems and to promote good mental health […]
With some employees in the office during traditional working hours, others on overnight shifts and some working remotely, CAA Club Group wants to ensure its wellness program is accessible to everyone. That dedication to all employee groups helped clinch the company’s win for the best health and wellness program for an employer with more than 1,000 […]