Economic uncertainty, including the potential for new U.S. tariffs, is prompting businesses to review their workforce strategies and benefits policies to remain resilient. While employers…
Various forms of digital health care have been available in Canada for several years, but I’d argue nothing has accelerated the awareness, need and adoption…
Anyone who’s ever run a marathon or completed an endurance race or trek knows the last few miles are the hardest, both physically and mentally.…
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, technology was blurring the lines between work and home life. An unhealthy attachment to our mobile phones made it easy…
Most people agree massage offers some therapeutic benefits, such as reduction of muscle tension and pain related to soft tissue strains and injuries. Studies have…
For most of my 25 years in the benefits industry, the pace of change has been more evolutionary than revolutionary. However, the past few years have seen…
One in every five Canadian suffers from some form of chronic pain, a condition that often — though not always —starts with an injury or illness…
Anyone who’s ever suffered from chronic pain will tell you it’s a great motivator. When you’re in pain, you’ll go to great lengths and will try just…
I remember when employers were concerned about the potential impact of a little blue pill called Viagra that came with an annual price tag of about…
Achieving success at anything doesn’t just happen. In his 2008 book Outliers, Malcom Gladwell suggested the biggest contributing factor to success among those who are…
The 21st century is a smorgasbord of endless abundance and choice. Growing up in the 1970s and ’80s, strawberries were only available in season and,…
It’s no surprise to most Albertans that dental fees in the province are the highest in Canada by a wide margin. Recent statistics from Alberta…
Many of you have probably never heard of Ben Pobjoy. While he may not be a household name, some of you may have seen his…
Alberta is not the same place it was just 18 months ago when West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading around US$100 per barrel. That’s…
The financial risk to employers that provide prescription drug benefits for their employees has increased significantly over the past decade. Few employers have been lucky enough…
Some of the most intriguing books in history are about the resiliency and triumph of the human spirit. In Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, a…
It’s 11:00 p.m. and you’ve survived another day of back-to-back meetings, endless emails, gridlock traffic, making dinner and getting the kids off to bed. Your…
Albertans live and die by the price of crude oil. Whether you work for a company in the energy industry or not, oil prices impact…
Which country has the better healthcare system, Canada or the U.S.? While both systems offer many benefits and challenges, I believe the U.S. model is…
Canadians have never been unhealthier. The incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, to name a few, continue to rise. Statistics Canada found that, in…
Canadian companies are extending their reach globally more than ever. Whether they are exploring for oil and gas in a remote corner of the planet…
There’s been no shortage of recent studies indicating that for the past few years, prescription drug inflation in Canada has been relatively flat. Drug patent…
One size no longer fits all and employees are demanding benefits that cater to their unique needs. Twenty years ago most organizations provided traditional benefits…
While Canadian plan sponsors are more likely to be subsidiaries of American companies, there are many Canadian companies with subsidiaries in the United States. For…
In a world where just about everything is becoming customizable, it’s no surprise that many plan sponsors want to offer flexible benefits that can be…