Latest news in Health benefits

40% of U.S. employers offered fertility benefits in 2022, up from 30% in 2020: survey

Two-fifths (40 per cent) of U.S. organizations currently offer fertility benefits, up from 30 per cent in 2020, according to a survey by the International Foundation…

  • By: Staff
  • February 14, 2023 February 9, 2023
  • 09:00

86% of U.S. HR professionals worry about current economy’s impact on workers: survey

The vast majority (86 per cent) of U.S. human resources professionals say they’re concerned about the current economic environment’s impact on employees’ mental and financial…

  • By: Staff
  • February 10, 2023 February 9, 2023
  • 09:00
Editorial

Editorial: What’s next for improving workplace mental-health support?

Nearly three years have passed since the coronavirus pandemic became a household name. In some ways, March 11, 2020 — the day the World Health…

Head to head: Should employers increase mental-health coverage or expand the types of health-care professionals in their benefits plans?

Two Canadian employers explain why it’s important to implement a combination of higher coverage and a variety of practitioners under their plans. Elaine Cheung, director…

How 5 employers are ensuring mental health remains a priority

Even though the pandemic phase of the coronavirus crisis may be waning, two winners and three finalists in the 2022 Workplace Benefits Awards’ mental-health categories…

Are workplace mental-health programs evolving beyond the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace?

Exactly a decade ago this month, Canadian employers were introduced to the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace — a global…

How wellness is guiding employers, employees into the future workplace

After nearly three years mired in the coronavirus pandemic, employers are beginning to put the pieces of their respective workplaces back together, using wellness as…

Q&A with Bell Canada’s Monika Mielnik

The company’s director of DEI, mental health and well-being discusses building a psychologically safe and inclusive workplace and keeping up with her toddler. Q: What…

BluePrint CPAs incentivizing onsite workers with gym membership

BluePrint CPAs is offering a paid gym membership exclusively to its in-office employees as part of the firm’s strategy to encourage a healthy workplace and…

Survey finds majority of employees planning to change jobs in 2023

The majority (81 per cent) of employees say they’re planning to change jobs within the next year, with nearly half (46 per cent) planning to…

  • By: Staff
  • February 7, 2023 February 7, 2023
  • 09:00

Telus training managers to recognize signs of employees experiencing mental-health struggles

Telus Communications Inc. is training its people leaders to recognize when employees are experiencing mental-health struggles. The organization provides leaders with scripts to refer to when they…

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New report shows mental-health drug claims ‘skyrocketed’ among young Canadians between 2019 and 2021

Between 2019 and 2021, mental-health drug claims skyrocketed among young Canadians, according to a new report by Sun Life Financial Inc. The report, which identified…

  • By: Staff
  • January 31, 2023 January 30, 2023
  • 09:00

Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

An article on how British Columbia’s amended definition of provision for adverse deviation will impact the province’s target-benefit pension plans was the most-read story on…

  • By: Staff
  • January 27, 2023 January 26, 2023
  • 09:00

Vancity supporting employee well-being with enhanced mental-health coverage

Vancouver City Savings Credit Union is supporting employee well-being by increasing its coverage for mental-health benefits from $1,500 to $10,000, per employee and per dependant.…

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64% of U.S. employers increasing investments in employee wellness: survey

Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of U.S. employers are planning to increase their spend on employee wellness programs, according to a new survey by Wellable.…

  • By: Staff
  • January 25, 2023 January 24, 2023
  • 09:00

Bell Let’s Talk Day: More mental-health support needed in the workplace

Bell Canada is marking its annual Let’s Talk Day with a call-to-action for increased mental-health support within communities and workplaces. “This year’s campaign has taken…

Coverage of the 2022 Face to Face in Drug Plan Management Forum

Running for more than 17 years, Benefits Canada‘s Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum is the industry’s most popular drug benefits conference. In 2022,…

Rethinking risk management and the future of private drug insurance

With cost of private drug plan claims rising about 5.5 per cent each year, pooling is one solution that could be beneficial for benefits plan…

Striking the right balance between member access, plan sustainability

Plan sponsors face challenges balancing benefits plan sustainability while also ensuring their plan members have access to the care they need, said Marie-Hélène Dugal, manager…

Taking a holistic approach to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is commonly misunderstood and can reduce the ability of a person to function while impacting their quality of life, said Anjila…

A look at the evolving role of pharmacists in drug plan management

As pharmacists’ scope of practice evolves across the country, their expanded role in drug plan management can improve plan member health and positively impact plan…

Four drug plan management strategies to help bend the cost curve

With the cost of drug claims continuing to rise in 2021, benefits plan sponsors can enable certain drug programs to curb costs, keeping their plans…

Innovative new drugs improve health outcomes, productivity and plan sponsors’ bottom lines

While a transplant can be life-altering for a patient as a permanent cure for their underlying condition, it can also profoundly affect their immune system,…

What problems need to be solved when it comes to rare diseases?

About a million Canadians are impacted by rare diseases, which disproportionately affect younger patients — 70 per cent start in childhood and, sadly, half of…