Ericsson Canada employees will be counting their steps as the company launches a new online wellness program.
After launching a pilot program in its Toronto office to “an overwhelming response,” it was rolled out to its offices in Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver in April, according to Karla Jensen, head of human resources at Ericsson Canada.
The program, which is capable of synchronizing with a variety of devices, allows employees to monitor their habits and progress around wellness. “You’re able to track your steps, to track your sleep, to make certain personal goals, [and] there is a component of wellness where you can get information on a daily basis, tracking towards a habit that maybe you’re looking to break or behaviours that you look to establish,” says Jensen.
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The platform also enables company-wide competitions, such as the step-count challenge introduced on May 23 that challenges the company’s staff to “collect the most steps.”
The program is among several benefits Ericsson offers its employees. They include financial support of up to $8,000 for educational courses that pertain to their career along with time off to attend them; a flexible benefits plan with windows for enrolment every two years or in case of a life-altering event; and a stock-purchase plan that Ericsson matches on a one-to-one basis.
As for future plans, Ericsson hopes to address gender diversity in the telecommunications industry with a goal that would see women comprise 30 per cent of all executives, leaders and employees by 2020.