Air Canada employees are back to work today after a tentative agreement on pay and pensions was reached yesterday, ending a three-day strike and 12 weeks of negotiations. CAW president Ken Lewenza said the new agreement is an important achievement for the 3,800 CAW members at Air Canada who resisted company demands for major pension […]
The importance of the communication of an employee benefits plan cannot be undervalued. It creates employee awareness of the available benefits, plan restrictions and general provisions of the plan; supports an employer that is trying to establish plan value; assists employers in meeting its plan administrator responsibilities. Whether you have the resources to develop and […]
Every Canadian wants a little more money. But what if you were offered more money in lieu of your health benefits plan? According to the 2011 sanofi-aventis Healthcare Survey, 59% of group health benefits plan members in Canada would rather keep their benefits plan than receive $10,000 in cash. When the amount is doubled to […]
I was talking to a client recently about the potential implications of a particular biologic drug on their future benefits plan costs. The client listened intently but at the end of the discussion indicated they understood the issue but couldn’t do anything about it. At that moment it struck me—most employers manage benefits plan risks […]
Watch this video A strong employee/plan sponsor relationship may be the key to employee engagement and the success of a workplace wellness program. Employees are more likely to make a commitment to their own health, and thus their own productivity, if they can relate to the experiences of their wellness manager. Cyndy Nayer, president, CEO […]
Air Canada customer service and sales staff are threatening a walk out on Monday, June 13 if the unions can’t come to an agreement with the airline over pension issues. Under the airline’s proposal, new hires would receive DC pension plans instead of the DB plans employees currently earn. Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said […]
Initiatives to increase employee motivation will receive greater focus from Canadian executives over the coming year, according to a new study. The 2011 Canadian Incentive Trends Survey, conducted in April by Berkeley Payment Solutions, found that 88% of the 429 executives polled list increasing employee motivation as a management priority over the coming year. When […]
Growing EAPs in Canada was no easy task, but Warren Shepell’s rural upbringing taught him the value of perseverance. Shepell points to his education as an instrumental part of his success in the employee assistance program (EAP) field. But he says the fact that he was able to receive an education is as inspiring as […]
Manulife Financial has launched Health Management Services, a new service to help plan sponsors manage their benefits costs. The new service offers employers a “unique and practical solution that takes the traditional approach of promoting employee health and wellness two steps further,” according to a release from the company. Health Management Services creates an analysis […]
Great-West Life has introduced a new smart-phone app to help plan members better manage their prescription medications. DrugHub, which is available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, serves as “a virtual library of prescription drug information at your fingertips,” says Brad Fedorchuk, vice-president of group marketing at Great-West Life. “Managing prescription drug usage can […]