Coronavirus – Benefits Canada.com

Gene, cell therapies raising questions of drug cost responsibilities: expert

Sadie Janes — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:00:30 +0000

The growth of gene and cell therapies are raising significant questions among private payers about who bears the responsibility for the costs of these treatments, says Tim Clarke, president at TC Health Consulting Inc. “One issue is whether this is going to be paid for by public health or if it’s an employer health issue. […]

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TTC lifting coronavirus vaccine mandate Nov. 27

bwolfe — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 20:00:51 +0000

The Toronto Transit Commission is ending its mandatory coronavirus vaccination requirement for workers and offering to reinstate employees who were terminated as a result of the policy without back pay. The transit agency said the mandate — introduced in September 2021 — will be lifted Nov. 27, though it’s continuing to encourage employees to stay […]

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Half of plan sponsors have implemented coronavirus vaccination policies: BCHS

bwolfe — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 13:00:12 +0000

Around half (53 per cent) of Canadian benefits plan sponsors and two-thirds (65 per cent) of plan members say their workplace implemented a coronavirus vaccination policy, according to the 2022 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. Among plan sponsors, vaccination policies were more likely with unionized workforces (72 per cent compared to 44 per cent of employers with […]

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Ontario extending paid sick leave program until March 31, 2023

Sadie Janes — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 19:00:19 +0000

The Ontario government is extending its paid sick leave program to March 31, 2023 to ensure employees don’t lose pay if they miss work due to a coronavirus infection. Eligible workers will continue to receive up to $200 a day for a maximum of three days if they need to get tested, vaccinated, receive booster […]

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Public servants facing unpaid leave if not vaccinated by Oct. 29

mdunne — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 13:00:42 +0000

The core public service, as well as air travel and rail employees, must all be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by Oct. 29, according to Canada’s new mandatory vaccine policy. The federal government announced Wednesday that public servants must attest they’re fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by Oct. 29 or be put on unpaid administrative […]

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Wages set to rise 2.7% in 2022 as inflation hits new high, says survey

mdunne — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 19:00:16 +0000

Wages are going up in Canada, with employers projecting an average annual pay increase of 2.5 per cent for next year, according to a new survey by LifeWorks Inc. When excluding organizations that are planning salary freezes, the poll found average salaries are expected to rise 2.7 per cent in 2022. It demonstrates growing confidence […]

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Unvaccinated Air Canada employees facing unpaid leave, termination

lbailey — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 13:00:50 +0000

Air Canada is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and to report their vaccination status by Oct. 30. While the company will accommodate employees who have valid exceptions, such as medical conditions, that prevent them from being vaccinated, failure to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 30 will have consequences — including unpaid leave or […]

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Liberals promising 10 sick days for federally regulated employees

mdunne — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 19:00:22 +0000

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is promising 10 sick days for federally regulated employees. Trudeau made the promise on the federal election trail on Friday ahead of Canadians going to the polls on Sept. 21. Read: What are the current provincial policies on emergency, sick leave amid the coronavirus pandemic? “Before the pandemic hit, more than half of workers across […]

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Trudeau mandating coronavirus vaccinations for federal employees

bwolfe — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 13:00:28 +0000

Ottawa will require federal employees and workers in federally regulated industries to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, marking a shift in the federal government’s position on vaccine mandates. The move — which will affect roughly 1.5 million workers — is necessary to protect against more dangerous variants of the coronavirus, says Dominic LeBlanc, head of the Privy […]

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Unifor, Chartwell continuing contract negotiations over sick days, bereavement leave

bwolfe — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 13:00:06 +0000

Contract negotiations are continuing between Chartwell Master Care and the union representing employees at an Ottawa-area retirement home, after the employer proposed cuts to paid sick days and changes to bereavement leave. The proposed cuts at Chartwell Stonehaven include a reduced annual cap on sick days — from 12 to six — for full-time employees, […]

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