A large majority (89 per cent) of employers cited a better control of health-care spending as the top reason for having workplace medical clinics, according to a new survey by Mercer and the National Association of Worksite Health Centers. The survey, which queried 121 U.S. employers offering onsite or near-site medical clinics, found 84 per cent of […]
An increased focus on early intervention led Staples Canada to the mental-health award at Benefits Canada’s 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards in Toronto on Oct. 11. After noticing that mental health was becoming a larger issue within the organization, Staples adopted the national standard for psychological health and safety in the workplace, created its own psychological health and […]
While Ontario Power Generation has had a major medical absence program in place for years, it saw an opportunity for a review and update in 2016, leading to changes that solidified its win for best absence management program at Benefits Canada’s 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 11. Working with many stakeholders, including unions, human resources […]
Whether considering age eligibility or policy wording, recent rulings for employees in a pair of Ontario cases are reminders to employers to review their long-term disability offerings. When I’m 65 Ontario employers may no longer have the option to reduce or eliminate health and life insurance benefits for employees aged 65 or older, following the […]
Crawford and Co. Canada Inc. is adding a new software platform, designed to help employees return to work sooner, to its human risk service line. The software, called EmployerWorks, aims to streamline and standardize the collection, communication and analysis of “physical, cognitive and psychosocial demands tied to risk assessment and return to work efforts,” according to a press […]
In the coming five years, Canadians can expect to see the next stage of awareness around mental health, according one health expert. “Where we need to build on awareness is what the illness actually looks like. There’s still quite a lack of knowledge out there and I believe that’s improving greatly every day,” said Chris Anderson, president of Medaca Health […]
Due to the elimination of the unfunded liability of Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s insurance fund, premium rates for employers will be reduced by almost 30 per cent. Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the reduction will help employers save money, increase investment and create more jobs, resulting in a $1.45 billion injection into the Ontario economy, according […]
At Benefits Canada’s 2018 Healthy Outcomes conference in May, industry experts shared valuable insights and best practice tips for taking a tailored approach to employee wellness. Read on for coverage of the 2018 Healthy Outcomes conference: Leveraging teachable moments among tips for boosting wellness programs How HPV is causing more than just cervical cancer […]
It wouldn’t be reasonable to proceed with a blood transfusion without first confirming blood type, or order eyeglasses without first confirming the prescription. Why then, do so many organizations launch a workplace wellness program without first confirming the actual health risk areas applicable to their employee population, as well as the cost drivers to the benefits […]
One in every five Canadian suffers from some form of chronic pain, a condition that often — though not always —starts with an injury or illness and lasts more than three months or beyond the normal recovery period. With so many Canadians suffering from chronic pain, one would assume its treatment would be well understood in […]