Ensuring employees with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have access to medical care as well as other services—such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and drug coverage—is very important in helping them to be productive and active in the workplace. Dr. Diane Lacaille, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia, describes what employers can do to help […]
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a musculoskeletal condition that affects about 1% of Canadians. If RA is not diagnosed early and treated properly, it can place a heavy financial burden on plan sponsors. RA is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in the lining of the joints. It is a systemic disease, which means it […]
Manulife Financial Group Benefits has launched a suite of services to address the needs of employers dealing with incidences of workplace injury. Occupational Management Services will offer an integrated workplace injury and disability benefits program aimed at simplifying the processing and management of workers’ compensation claims, which totalled $11 billion across Canada in 2010. “Managing […]
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 […]