With drug costs for plan sponsors steadily rising in recent years, keeping budgets down is top of mind as they plan for 2021. “The biggest concern for plan sponsors is sustainability,” said Shawn O’Brien, principal of data enablement and drug, health, dental product roadmap for Telus Health, in a press release. “They have to find a […]
As we approach the end of a truly challenging year with more uncertainty on the horizon for 2021, people all over the globe are adjusting to the new realities of their personal and professional lives. No one is unaffected. In a broad sense, the world of employment is now divided between people working at home […]
While professional services company Accenture has long been supportive of its working parents, it introduced a new backup childcare program in 2020 to help employees with the challenges precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic. “When the pandemic hit, our working parents found themselves homeschooling their kids while juggling the demands of remote work,” says Susan Goodyer, […]
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is bringing the topic of wills and estate planning out of the dark and into the light for some employers. Mainstream news reports and personal social media feeds often mention daily death counts as the world battles the second wave. In response, some employers are starting to more openly talk about and […]
With the coronavirus pandemic affecting plan sponsors in different ways, they can return to the basics and use data to manage their benefits spend, according to a webinar hosted by the Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute on Tuesday. “It’s helpful for companies to pivot and take the conversation back to the basics, which is discussing the […]
As remote working continues amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Seneca College is increasingly promoting employee fitness. “Employee fitness has always been a high priority for us, but with the pandemic we’ve been talking about it even more,” says Felisha Ali, project and program coordinator for leadership and employee development at Seneca. She says staff have […]
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, Canadian employers are balancing the need to reduce benefits costs while focusing on employee well-being, according to a new survey by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Just over half (55 per cent) of respondents said controlling costs is their top benefits-related challenge this year, with many considering measures such as variable cost […]
Beverly Silver, the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education’s employee benefits officer, talks employee assistance programs, employee training and independent coffee shops. Q. What top challenges do you face in your role? A. I find that most employees don’t take an interest in their benefits plan until they actually need it. The challenge is in making sure […]
Wellness apps are becoming an increasingly popular perk for Canadian employers to offer employees, particularly as stress continues to soar as the coronavirus pandemic drags on. CAA Club Group was ahead of the pack, launching its wellness app company-wide in 2018. However, a wide range of meditation and mindfulness apps are available, so plan sponsors have to do […]
Usually, this time of year sees employers hosting holiday parties and handing out bonuses. But this isn’t a typical year. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic means many human resources leaders and managers will have to think outside the sparkly gift box for ways to mark the end of the year and acknowledge employees. While a party is a often popular way […]