In the first year since the federal government made changes to employment insurance benefits aimed at helping caregivers and new parents, it has received more than 8,300 caregiving benefits claims. The government expects that number to grow, estimating about 22,000 claims for caregiving benefits by fall 2019. It also found that, as of September 2018, more […]
Aon has partnered with six Canadian insurance providers to offer traditional and flexible benefits through its Aon Choice platform. The new partnership includes Sun Life Financial Inc., Manulife Financial Corp., Great-West Life Assurance Co., Desjardins Insurance, SSQ Life Insurance Co. and Green Shield Canada. The companies comprise 82 per cent of the Canadian group benefits […]
Virtual health-care company Teladoc Health is launching a specialty pharmacy services product aimed at combatting rising prescription drug costs using analytics and medical opinions. “So many people find themselves taking a medication for an extended period of time with limited or no benefit and without the opportunity to fully understand why or learn of alternatives,” said […]
As the world is getting smaller, its workforce is becoming more mobile. In 2017, 66.2 million people travelled to live abroad, up from 52.8 million in 2013, according to research by Finaccord Ltd. That figure is expected to balloon to 87.5 million in 2021. In Canada alone, about 2.8 million people live and work abroad, […]
Commuting to work is part of daily life for many Canadians. In the 2016 census, Statistics Canada found 15.9 million citizens were commuters, spending an average of 26.2 minutes travelling to work each day. So how do employers make commuting easier? And how do they communicate perks, such as free parking, discounted transit passes and bike-friendly […]
Manulife Financial Corp. is making its Vitality health and wellness platform available to Canadian group benefits plan members next year. The platform, which connects with wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness bracelets, is designed to help users make healthy choices and then rewards them with discounts and gift cards for doing so. “We believe this program will help […]
Willis Towers Watson has launched an online shopping option for employee benefits. Its marketplace platform, which is both mobile and web-based, allows employees to shop for benefits online and provides coverage decision support. “For employers, Benefits Marketplace moves us toward a truly personalized approach,” said Dawn Noordam, director of health and benefits consulting and leader of Benefits […]
Allstate Insurance Co. of Canada, Federal Express Canada Corp. and Marriott Hotels are among the best employers in Canada, according to Aon’s annual benchmark and study, which recognizes 49 companies across the country. This year, the study found that organizations with high levels of employee engagement create a strong and compelling employment brand, excel at fostering […]
These days, peace of mind is hard to come by, but the employers at the 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards roundtable centred their discussion around the many ways they can positively contribute towards their workforces’ mental, physical and financial health, particularly when it comes to absenteeism and improving return-to-work processes. “We know that if people are […]
Medical plan costs paid by employers are outpacing inflation, according to a new report by Aon. In Canada, however, medical cost inflation is trending down, lower than both the global and North American averages. Aon expects Canadian medical costs to rise by six per cent next year. Factored against average general inflation of 2.1 per cent in 2019, […]