Admiral Insurance’s award-winning benefits program is demonstrating how employers can use versatility to strike a fine balance between finding innovative solutions and maintaining plan sustainability. The organization was the winner in the Drug/Benefits Plan Innovation category of the 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards. “We’re honoured to win this award and be nominated in three categories,” says Allison Jost […]
Nearly nine in 10 (88 per cent) Canadian small- and medium-sized employers say they’re experiencing challenges finding skilled talent, according to a new survey by Robert Half Canada. The survey, which polled more than 400 Canadian SMEs, found their top concerns were retaining top talent (82 per cent), finding talent quickly (77 per cent), finding […]
Colliers International Group Inc.’s interventional and individualized approach to employee absences led to a win for best Absence Management program at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 18. “This is such an incredible and emotional achievement,” says Sonia-Sophia Vallie, a benefits, leaves and accommodation specialist at Colliers. “It’s very important to be here and […]
Nearly all (95 per cent) Canadian employees recognize their financial situation significantly impacts their personal well-being and 92 per cent of human resources leaders agree, according to a new report by Dialogue Health Technologies Inc. The survey, which polled more than 1,600 working Canadians, across all age groups and provinces, found more than a quarter […]
The most prevalent minimum employee benefits that are offered by multinational companies are employee assistance programs and life insurance (73 per cent), maternity leave (70 per cent) and paternity leave (69 per cent), according to a new survey by Aon. The survey, which polled nearly 300 employers from across 31 countries, found these standard offerings […]
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 […]
Warren Shepell has had a front-row seat for the evolution of how mental health has been treated in the workplace. Shepell was the pioneer and founder of employee assistance programs in Canada. He launched his first one in 1979 while working as an organizational consultant, after human resources professionals started referring employees struggling with mental-health […]
Mental-health claims by Canadians have increased by 132 per cent since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report by GreenShield. The report, which compiled data from the insurer’s claims database between 2020 to 2023, found women and younger generations account for the majority of mental-health services accessed. Among those accessing mental-health services, stress […]
Everyone loves a deal, but many Canadians either forget or don’t realize they can find discounts through their workplace. “There really are a lot [of perks] that employees just don’t seem to know about,” says Debby Carreau, chief executive officer and founder of Inspired HR, a human resources consultancy with offices across Canada. “Those things […]
The University Pension Plan’s chief people officer discusses expanding the talent pool, providing access to personalized and culturally relevant mental-health practitioners and finding time to enjoy the theatre. Q: What top challenges do you face in your role? A: As a new organization responsible for delivering pension security to 40,000 members, we need to attract […]