While many employers are including wearable devices in their wellness programs to encourage employees to track their health outcomes, one technology giant was granted two patents at the end of January for wearable tracking systems that monitor employee performance. The devices aren’t yet in use by the technology giant, but if they’re implemented, warehouse employees would wear wristbands that communicate […]
Any job applicant knows that in an interview, it’s important to sit up straight, lean in and make eye contact. But body language isn’t crucial only for potential employees — it also counts for current staff members. Body language is very important in the workplace, according to Kristin Coulombe, director of human resources at Jones […]
Before making changes to a benefits plan or building one from scratch, plan sponsors should first determine what problems they’re trying to solve, according to a human resources consultant. The reasons for implementing changes can vary, but moving forward without a clear motivation can cause problems, said Phyllis Retty, owner and human resources consultant at Lift HR Consulting, during […]
The Co-operators Group Ltd. is expanding its mental-health support for employees by increasing its annual coverage of mental-health services to $5,000 a year per family member. It’s also expanding the number of eligible practitioners covered by its plan, beyond psychologists and social workers to include family therapists, clinical counsellors and psychotherapists. The company is also introducing a new […]
The pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance and the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association have reached a deal aimed at reducing the prices for some generic drugs by as much as 40 per cent. While the parties are touting significant savings for Canada’s public drug plans, they also say employers and patients will benefit from price reductions of 25 to 40 per cent, as of […]
A proposed guideline setting out standards for the disclosure of intermediary compensation in group benefits and retirement services could have a big effect on the market. Dave Patriarche, president of Mainstay Insurance Brokerage Inc. and founder of Canadian Group Insurance Brokers Inc., is supportive of compensation disclosure and says the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association’s new guideline makes […]
Mentoring isn’t on the radar for most chief financial officers in Canada, according to a recent survey by Robert Half Management Resources. The survey, which polled 270 chief financial officers, found that 61 per cent of respondents have never served as a mentor, formally or informally, at any point in their career. On the other hand, a third (33 […]
Building on a wellness program that covers employees’ overall well-being, Allstate Insurance Co. of Canada is introducing a trio of programs in January. “January can be a stressful and a tough month for many,” says Adrianne Sullivan-Campeau, the organization’s vice-president of human resources. “So you’re coming down from the holiday high, you have large bills coming in from your holiday purchases, […]
As the ways that Canadians use smartphones and apps continue to evolve, what are the implications for those technologies in health-care and wellness services? According to recent studies by digital marketing company Catalyst Canada, the number of apps per smartphone is declining, but the actual use of them is becoming more specialized. The studies note that, despite the […]
An Ottawa labour council has set up a hotline to allow employees to report on companies that are cutting paid breaks and other benefits following Ontario’s minimum wage hike on Jan. 1. Sean McKenny, the president of the Ottawa and District Labour Council, says the council started the hotline after hearing about two Tim Hortons franchises in Cobourg, Ont. that […]