BDO Canada is partnering with two non-governmental organizations to address accessibility gaps within the workplace. The consultancy is working with the Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society to develop a dedicated accessibility engagement audit tool, which will allow employers to answer questions related to their accessibility initiatives and see where they need to improve, […]
In 2019, Canadians with disabilities earned an average annual income of $43,400, substantially lower than people without disabilities ($55,200), a pay gap of 21.4 per cent, according to a new report from Statistics Canada. It found a 24.3 per cent pay gap between men with disabilities (average annual earnings of $48,700) and men without disabilities ($64,300). By comparison, […]
Employee resource groups have been a part of many organizations for several years, are usually created and operated by employees and evolve and grow over time. But at Kraft Heinz Canada, six fully-formed ERGs arrived at once. “When our Canadian and U.S. businesses merged last year, the company thought one of the best ways to […]
More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of employers in Ontario believe supporting employee mental health and well-being is important for their organization’s success, according to a new survey by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. However, the survey, which polled more than 1,900 organizations across the province, also found just over a third (37 per cent) […]
An article on how employers can use ‘Blue Monday’ as an opportunity to discuss mental health was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Employers can use ‘Blue Monday’ to reset workplace mental-health strategies 2. Microsoft’s U.S. employees receiving unlimited vacation days 3. Walmart enhancing […]
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is prioritizing accessibility and inclusion in its new offices at CIBC Square in downtown Toronto. “The building was formally announced in spring 2017, with design research starting shortly after that included consultation with 6,000 employees,” says Claudette Knight, vice-president of workplace design and transformation at CIBC. “The results of that […]
Employers requiring workers with disabilities to return to the office should increase flexibility and regularly check in with these employees to make the transition as smooth as possible, says Farzeen Mawji, national practice leader in inclusion and diversity at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Remote and hybrid working arrangements proved beneficial for many employees with […]
Amazon Canada is prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility by working closely with its People With Disabilities employee resource group and adding supports such as internal sign language interpreters. “One of the things we’ve really focused on is building a sense of belonging and demonstrating that we value our employees and the diversity of [our workforce],” says […]
Fluor Canada Ltd.’s manager of Indigenous relations and DEI discusses the post-coronavirus pandemic workplace, employee resource groups and fishing. Q: What top challenges do you face in your role? A: Employee engagement can be challenging in the post-[coronavirus] pandemic hybrid working model. We’ve come out of a strictly work-from-home circumstance to a hybrid model and, […]
Walmart Canada is increasing its mental-health benefits coverage for employees and expanding access to virtual health care. Effective Feb. 1, 2023, the company will provide $3,500 in annual mental-health coverage per employee, up from $1,000. “We wanted to make a statement with our [employees] in terms of support for their mental health and $1,000 just […]