While Canada’s unemployment rate is just six per cent, according to Statistics Canada, it doesn’t mean workforces are immune to layoffs. Employment in certain industries, such as information, culture and recreation, continually declined between August and November 2018, noted Statistics Canada. Indeed, compared to 12 months earlier, employment in those industries was down three per cent nationally. When […]
While the group benefits renewal process may seem like simply a box to tick each year, it’s important to approach the process holistically. “There are many factors that go into a renewal, the biggest of which are claims experience, insurer trend and utilization, as well as claims reserve, admin expenses, demographics and credibility,” says Adrianna […]
General Motors of Canada Co. is working to set up jobs and training programs for employees who will be put out of work when it closes the Oshawa Assembly plant next year, even as Unifor promises an extended fight to keep the operation open. In addition, GM estimates about half of the 3,000 unionized and […]
Hub International Ltd. is acquiring the employee benefits practice of Rise People Inc. Based in Vancouver, Rise offers an online platform of human resources, time tracking, payroll and benefits administration tools to Canadian employers. As part of the acquisition, Hub will begin offering Rise People’s services to its clients. Jesse McNeil, director of group benefits at Rise People, […]
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is tying its professional focus into its employee benefits offering, piloting an online program to help employees get more out of the time they spend sleeping. In November, the U.S.-based Welltrinsic Sleep Network, a subsidiary of the academy, rolled out the program with the aim of helping employees track, monitor and […]
When an individual visits their doctor’s office complaining of feeling blue, wondering if they’re depressed or whether they’ll ever shake off this sinking feeling, their doctor will look deeper for serious mental-health concerns. But the doctor may also hand over a prescription for an activity that gets the individual out of the house and into the community — maybe guitar or singing lessons, or even […]
Almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of North American employees feel it’s important that a potential employer has strong corporate social responsibility practices, according to a survey by Interac Corp. and the Upside Foundation. Among the 72 per cent, four per cent said it’s critical a potential employer has CSR or charitable programs in place, while 29 per cent ranked […]
The most popular health benefits provided to part-time employees in the United States include health insurance (54 per cent), prescription drug coverage (53 per cent), dental and vision care (52 per cent) and flexible spending accounts (47 per cent), according to data from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The survey, which looked at benefits […]
The Great-West Life Assurance Co. is now offering Dialogue’s virtual health-care services to employers in all Canadian provinces and the Yukon, as well as its own 10,000 employees. “Making innovative health technologies like Dialogue more accessible to our employees and customers demonstrates our commitment to supporting the physical, mental and financial well-being of Canadians,” said […]
More employers are adding unique perks to their traditional benefits packages to meet the changing demands of their workforces, according to a new study by human resources association WorldatWork and management consulting firm Korn Ferry. The study, which surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. employers, found more organizations are offering unique benefits such as employee discounts, eldercare resource and referral services, telemedicine […]