With the coronavirus pandemic forcing us all into social distancing measures for the majority of 2020, one inevitable side-effect is the substantial growth in our digital interactions. For my part, I’ve caught up with colleagues on Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business, attended a baby shower and a baby naming ceremony over Zoom, bought clothes […]
Like many national retailers, Sleep Country Canada Holdings Inc. has a diverse group of employees across the country, working in more than 250 stores, as well as warehouses and distribution facilities, delivery services and a head office. “The whole point of this was to create a way for us to communicate with our [employees] across […]
Today’s consumer culture includes shopping online, booking vacations on smartphones and receiving recommendations for the next must-watch movie or television show based on most recent views. So it’s no surprise employees are starting to expect the same level of technology in their benefits plans and communications. “Today’s technologies — as well as consumer expectations — […]
Green Shield Canada is partnering with Maple to provide its group benefits plan members with free access to the virtual-care provider’s platform for the winter months ahead. “As a leading advocate for evidence-based digital health technologies and the impact they can have on the health-care experience for Canadians, it was an easy decision for GSC to […]
Wellness apps are becoming an increasingly popular perk for Canadian employers to offer employees, particularly as stress continues to soar as the coronavirus pandemic drags on. CAA Club Group was ahead of the pack, launching its wellness app company-wide in 2018. However, a wide range of meditation and mindfulness apps are available, so plan sponsors have to do […]
Eight months into the coronavirus pandemic, employees continue to face a myriad of stressors, including health anxiety, isolation, financial concerns, family issues and increased workloads. This prolonged stress is impacting sleep, energy and motivation, while driving a heightened demand for mental-health services and medication. “If you think of a classic disaster, . . . [like] an […]
Telus Health is partnering with Canada Life Assurance Co. and Innomar Strategies Inc. to launch Canada’s an electronic drug prior authorization solution. The pilot program will test the digitized process to fulfill prior authorization submissions for real prescription cases and evaluate its impact on process efficiency, consistency of adjudication results and the overall plan sponsor and member […]
Morneau Shepell Ltd. is expanding its internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy solution with a series of new programs, in response to a growing need for these services during the coronavirus pandemic. Programs covering trauma, grief and loss will be available on the AbilitiCBT platform by the end of 2020, while those focused on obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety […]
The Equitable Life Insurance Co. of Canada is enhancing its online enrolment tool for group benefits plan members. New employees will now be able to directly enter their enrolment information and designate a beneficiary, while users will also be reminded before the enrolment period expires, according to a press release. The tool was originally launched in […]
As coronavirus cases rise across the country and some return-to-work plans become return-to-home plans, many employers are wondering how to help their employees adapt once again as the second wave of the pandemic slams into Canada. Will there be another lockdown this year? Will children be expected to learn remotely again while employees work? How can we, as […]