Drug plan design changes are often unavoidable, whether they’re due to a carrier modifying contracts across the board or an employer looking to manage ballooning costs. Generally, “plan sponsors are looking at programs like more managed formularies and, potentially, maximums,” says Suzanne Lepage, a private health plan strategist in Kitchener, Ont. “Changes driven at the […]
PCL Construction Ltd.’s vice-president of human resources and professional development discusses the many dimensions of wellness, virtual health care and hiking in the Rockies. Q. What are the top challenges you face in your role? A. The top challenge right now is getting employees aware and involved with their [benefits] plan. We’re on a flex […]
Over the last year, Morneau Shepell Ltd. has implemented innovative strategies that have fostered openness, diversity and well-being, according to its inaugural corporate social responsibility report. The company introduced new diversity and inclusivity practices in March 2018, implementing a board diversity policy to maintain a minimum of 30 per cent women and 30 per cent men. […]
When trying to engage pension members in retirement planning, some words are better than others. Rob Kochel, vice-president at Invesco Ltd., advised employers at Benefits Canada’s 2019 Benefits and Pension Summit to do away with the financial industry jargon they use to explain retirement concepts to their plan members. “It’s not what you say, it’s what people […]
Alongside Hydro One Ltd.’s initial public offering in November 2015, the company underwent an internal transformation by revamping its total rewards program. Previously, the utility organization’s program was very traditional with a fixed salary structure and not much external benchmarking, according to Sabrin Lila, Hydro One’s director of compensation and human resources analytics, noting the company was limited by existing […]
In determining which savings options to offer employees, a key component is understanding the workforce and its goals, as well as communicating the offering in a way they can understand, according to a panel on engaging workers in defined contribution pensions at Benefits Canada’s 2019 DC Plan Summit in Banff, Alta. in February. Thak Bhola, […]
Employers are increasingly including diversity and inclusion objectives in their benefits, compensation, workplace culture and well-being initiatives, according to new research by Willis Towers Watson. The survey, which polled 535 U.S. employers, found 55 per cent of employers have promoted diversity and inclusion initiatives relating to workplace policies and culture to their employees in the last three […]
The Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace and MyWorkplaceHealth.com founder Joti Samra are launching an online tool aimed at helping employers assess their leaders’ ability to foster psychologically safe workplaces. The tool can be used by employers to evaluate how they implement and promote communication and collaboration, social intelligence, problem solving and conflict management, safety […]
When Lisa Machado was diagnosed with a rare leukemia 11 years ago, one of her biggest challenges was finding emotional support and education. “And so in the days after I was diagnosed, I joined the clinical trial, mostly because I was anxious and wanted to make sure that if anything happened, it would be watched very closely. […]
Employees have multi-dimensional lives, with responsibilities outside the workplace that affect how they perform within it. This is why companies that are consistently recognized as family-friendly are maximizing their workers’ potential by helping take care of their families through benefits and wellness programs. Samuel, Son & Co., a family owned and operated metal and distribution […]