As the coronavirus crisis moves into an endemic phase, employers are diligently rebuilding their workplaces to suit the new working environment that’s emerged from this cataclysmic disruption. In the meantime, Canadians are facing the rising cost of living and trying to balance the responsibilities in their work and family lives. In the face of all […]
The autumn is typically a busy one for the industry, but this year was especially eventful over at Benefits Canada. After a brief hiatus, the long-standing Healthy Outcomes Conference returned in October. This year, it was an in-person event designed for employers to exchange ideas and best practices for achieving improved employee health outcomes. Nearly […]
Hybrid work and the rise of the four-day workweek are among the factors shaping employers’ well-being and mental-health strategies in 2023, says Laura Putnam, founder of wellness consultancy Motion Infusion. “These trends point to not only a rise in the recognition of the importance of well-being at work, but there’s also a recognition that check-the-box […]
Ten years ago, while BlackBerry Ltd. was moving from its head office near the University of Waterloo campus to a complex of three office buildings in the city, it took the opportunity to use feedback from employees to influence how it built its new space. A wellness room and a spirituality room were among the requests […]
After two and a half years of coronavirus pandemic-induced remote work, employers are attempting to bring employees back to the office, but many are failing to do so in a way that supports employees’ mental well-being and takes their desire for work-life balance into account, according to Linda Duxbury, a professor at Carleton University’s Sprott […]
For too long, disability programs have been reactive rather than proactive, but connecting disability management to overall employee well-being strategies can help reduce disability trends and help employees on leave successfully return to work. “Where we’re seeing our [plan sponsor] clients have success is acknowledging the problem starts way sooner than [the point when] someone […]
As the coronavirus pandemic prompted a meaningful change in how employers communicate with their workforces, Telus Communications Inc. reviewed job types and created personas around these employee groups, communicating well-being information differently depending on the persona. “We were doing that before, but it became even more important during the pandemic and . . . in […]
In the face of a tight labour market and fierce competition for top talent, employee mental-health and well-being supports are emerging as key components of employers’ attraction and retention strategies. Speaking during a panel session at Benefits Canada‘s 2022 Healthy Outcomes Conference, Zayna Khayat (left), vice-president of growth and client success at Teladoc Health, said […]
Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Ltd. is expanding its coverage for mental-health and family-building benefits as part of its strategy to incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion throughout its benefits plan. The family-owned bottling company made a promise to its partner, the Coca-Cola Co., that it would build a multi-generational business and create a safe and inclusive workplace […]
Working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic day in and day out, health-care workers experienced significant mental-health challenges over the past two and a half years — and while the most acute phases of the pandemic may have passed, the sector is preparing for the psychological fallout. Employers in the sector have responded proactively […]