Between 2019 and 2023, chronic disease drug claims increased much faster among younger plan members compared to older generations, according to a new report by Sun Life. The report, which analyzed drug claims data of more than 3 million plan members over a five-year period, found across all age groups, nearly half (45.1 per cent) of […]
Peel Region’s extensive collection of data and strong results led to a win in the Mental Health Program category for employers with more than 1,000 employees at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 18. In 2019, Peel Region developed a psychological health and safety framework — the Me-We-Us Framework — and committed to adopting the Canadian […]
Although jobs that involve working remotely have been around for decades in some form or another, the coronavirus pandemic brought them front and centre. There are several issues regarding salary and these working arrangements. The first is whether such jobs should be paid the same as the same job in the office. Generally, hybrid and remote […]
Canada’s life and health insurers paid out a record $128 billion in health and retirement benefits last year, up from $114 billion in 2022, according to the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association’s annual fact book. “The benefits that life and health insurers provide through workplace plans and individual policies contributed significantly to Canadians’ health […]
Canadian health benefits plan members are increasingly feeling financially strained, according to the 2024 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey — a finding that experts say should be a call to action to employers to include more financial wellness supports in benefits plans. Personal finances has remained plan members’ top stressor for the past two years, with […]
When Jennifer Young, a global human resources business solutions consultant at Manulife Financial Corp., found out she was expecting her first child in 2021, she thought the coronavirus pandemic would pose the biggest challenge to a healthy pregnancy. But, like many parents, her journey into motherhood ended up requiring a circle of care dependent on […]
A majority (82 per cent) of Canadian companies have employment and retention programs focused on, or inclusive of, people with disabilities, according to a new report by advocacy group Disability:IN. It also found 71 per cent of U.S. employers have a requirement to ensure digital products are accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities, up […]
People leaders and managers have an important role to play in the well-being of their team members, said Carmen Bellows, registered psychologist and director of mental health solutions at Sun Life Financial Inc., during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health Summit in June. “[They can] recognize when mental health might be impacting someone, […]
A decline in the number of long-term disability claims over the past three years may be the result of some employees prioritizing their financial health over physical and mental wellness, said William Lindsay, senior disability management advisor for Desjardins Insurance’s disability management and prevention team, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health Summit in June. The […]
Mental health and musculoskeletal problems are currently two of the main drivers of disability claims and it isn’t uncommon for plan members with a mental-health diagnosis to also have a secondary physical condition or vice-versa, said Rebecca Smith, director of group life and disability services at Medavie Blue Cross, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health […]