DowDuPont Inc.’s specialty products division is adopting a comprehensive parental leave policy, which offers four weeks of paid leave for new parents, including adoptive and same-sex parents. “For birth mothers, the four paid weeks are in addition to an enhanced paid maternity leave which has been extended to 12 weeks,” said the company in a press […]
More than four out of five (83 per cent) Canadian workers are satisfied with their work, according to a study on the Canadian workplace by office supplies, technology products and furniture distributors Novexco Inc. The majority (90 per cent) of employee respondents said they’re very engaged, 81 per cent are motivated by their job and 75 per […]
May’s mental-health week is the biggest of the year for Denis Trottier, KPMG Canada’s chief mental-health officer. “My role is very interesting. I have nothing to do except mental health, looking at our mental-health practices, helping the firm do a benefits review and so on,” he says. While the role is currently an uncommon one, it’s likely […]
Today’s modern world is constantly shifting, piling more and more layers on for people attempting to juggle, and balance, the responsibilities of work and life. Since taking the reins as editor of this magazine 10 months ago, I’ve certainly felt the pressure. While finding a new managing editor to replace my former role and learning the […]
The contents of employee assistance programs are growing and reflecting a wider range of services. At the same time, attitudes to pricing are also changing. Trader Corp., a Toronto-based digital marketing company serving the automotive industry, expects more from its EAP provider and is willing to pay for it. “Our workforce is increasingly diverse with […]
Drug plan design changes are often unavoidable, whether they’re due to a carrier modifying contracts across the board or an employer looking to manage ballooning costs. Generally, “plan sponsors are looking at programs like more managed formularies and, potentially, maximums,” says Suzanne Lepage, a private health plan strategist in Kitchener, Ont. “Changes driven at the […]
Alongside Hydro One Ltd.’s initial public offering in November 2015, the company underwent an internal transformation by revamping its total rewards program. Previously, the utility organization’s program was very traditional with a fixed salary structure and not much external benchmarking, according to Sabrin Lila, Hydro One’s director of compensation and human resources analytics, noting the company was limited by existing […]
As newer generations enter the workforce, innovative benefits plan design is important to connect plan members with the resources that fulfill the needs of an increasingly diverse workforce. During a panel at Benefits Canada’s 2019 Benefits and Pension Summit in Toronto on April 17, Wade Domries, vice-president of total rewards at Telus Corp., discussed how the company […]
In September 2018, Health Canada approved, for the first time, the use of a chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy. Called Kymriah, it treats pediatric and young adult leukemia and adult lymphoma. The federal regulator is also reviewing a second gene therapy, called Yescarta, for an aggressive kind of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Both therapies are […]
Ellement Consulting Group is merging with AQ Group Solutions to create an enhanced offering in the Canadian employee benefits market. The merger will combine AQ Group Solutions’ customer service, group benefits and retirement solutions with Ellement’ actuarial consulting experience. It will be operated under the Ellement brand. Laura Lomow, president of AQ Solutions, will become a partner […]