With 57 per cent of Canadian employees expecting flexible working arrangements to continue post-coronavirus pandemic, 54 per cent of Canadian employers are adopting a hybrid working arrangement, according to a new survey by Mercer Canada. The survey found 61 per cent of employees said they prefer to work from home and, currently, 77 per cent […]
It’s 18 months this week since a global coronavirus pandemic was first declared and employers are applying many hard lessons learned as Canadian organizations and employees stare down further uncertainty wrought by the Delta variant, fourth wave and stagnant vaccination rates. As the country and world looks towards another tumultuous fall and winter, employers are […]
Amid the ongoing federal election campaign, the Liberal Party is promising to table legislation that would allow employers to request proof of a coronavirus vaccination without fear of a legal challenge. While few details were provided, the legislation would pertain to vaccination requirements for employees and customers, according to a press release. Read: Where do […]
While kids across the country are heading to school in-person this week, it’s far from the return to normal working parents had been hoping for. The uncertainty wrought by the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic across Canada, means the continuation of remote working for parents alongside remote learning for kids is a strong possibility […]
Victoria, B.C.-based Adamek Financial, a boutique benefits consulting firm, is merging with Sterling Capital Brokers Ltd. Founded in 2014, Sterling Capital is an independent benefits consulting firm based in Toronto and specializing in servicing small- to medium-sized employers. Adamek Financial’s team has a combined 92 years of consulting experience that includes benefits plan reviews, plan management, […]
A majority (88 per cent) of organizations across the globe believe their workers are more stressed now than they were two years ago, according to a new survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Employers said a majority (92 per cent) of their overall employee population is now somewhat or very stressed. And […]
When Katie Parkin’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in June, the family was relieved to learn his benefits plan included an opioid management program to help educate members on their pain relief options. Parkin’s organization — Vancouver Island-based Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort and Conference Centre — offers a similar program, which was made available […]
At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, Julie Gaudry and her colleagues in the industry braced themselves for a surge in disability claims that never came to fruition. “We didn’t know what the prevalence of this virus would be . . . and how significantly it would make people ill,” said Gaudry, head of group […]
Contract negotiations between Napanee, Ont.-based Lennox and Addington Interval House and Unifor Local 414, the union representing the company’s employees, have reached an impasse over maintaining the workers’ wellness fund. LAIH, a shelter serving women and children fleeing domestic violence, and the union have been locked in a conciliation process since March 10, 2021. The current […]
Telus Communications Inc. recognizes that all employees manage their health and well-being in different ways, so it allows staff to choose how they use the company’s flexible wellness offering — they can take time off to enjoy a staycation, pay down student loans or top up their health-care spending accounts. “We provide [employees] with credits […]