With around 270,000 individuals currently affected by irritable bowel disease, Canada has the highest prevalence in the world, according to Mina Mawani, president and chief executive officer of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2019 Halifax Benefits Summit on Sept. 24. “And this is going to increase significantly. We’re going to be […]
Unionized employees at Dearborn Ford in Kamloops, B.C. are receiving a pension boost and wage increases in a new three-year contract, which they voted to ratify earlier this week. The agreement, which applies to 43 workers represented by Unifor Local 10-B, includes a 0.25 per cent increase to employer contributions in the defined contribution pension plan, a 2.5 […]
Scotiabank is providing its eligible Canadian employees with an additional two paid personal days to support their mental health. Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, the bank’s Canadian workforce will have a total of five personal days and the flexibility to take them as needed, in addition to existing sick and vacation days. “Our people are our […]
Morneau Shepell Ltd. is acquiring U.S.-based MorningStar Health Inc. The acquisition will allow Morneau Shepell to enhance its U.S. presence in absence management, including leaves, disability, absence reporting and accommodation. MorningStar Health’s plan sponsor clients and employees, including its leadership team, will join Morneau Shepell but will remain based in Grand Rapids, MI. Read: Morneau Shepell closes acquisition of some of Mercer’s […]
Teladoc Inc. is partnering with Johnston Group to roll out its telemedicine services to 30,000 small- and mid-size employers in Canada. The service, which includes around-the-clock access to medical care regardless of location, will be available to all organizations that belong to the Chambers of Commerce group insurance plan. Teladoc and Johnston Group also collaborate […]
Benefits Canada is proud to announce the finalists of the 2019 Workplace Benefits Awards. This year’s entries set records in many categories, with a total of nearly 100 nominations. The winners will be announced at a luncheon event on Oct. 17 at the Arcadian Loft in Toronto. Buy your tickets to this not-to-miss event today. This year’s finalists […]
When an employee with diabetes is working in a safety-sensitive role experiences severely low blood sugar, what are the ramifications for employers? This question was addressed at Benefits Canada’s 2019 Chronic Disease at Work conference in Toronto in June. “For you, as an employer, what if this was your employee on their way to meet […]
Shopify Inc. is putting out the welcome mat for software developers who’ve taken leave from work with its new training program. The three-month paid program will help senior developers re-join the workforce after leaves of absence by bringing them up to speed on any technical developments in their field and training them on the Shopify […]
As Canadians face increasingly competing financial priorities while juggling busy lives at work and home, the overlap between financial worry, stress and employee health is becoming more intense. In 2018, a study published in the U.S.-based Journal of Social Service Research found employees without paid sick leave are more prone to feel stressed about their […]
While “brain fog” isn’t a clinical condition, it feels like forgetfulness, slow thinking and difficulty concentrating. It happens to everyone at some point and can often impact productivity at work. Some common causes of brain fog include stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, hormonal changes from pregnancy or andropause/menopause, an unhealthy diet, vitamin B12 deficiency, chemotherapy and side-effects […]