Canadian businesses are taking a wider view of their social responsibilities amid the coronavirus pandemic, economic disparity and protests against racial injustice, according to a new survey by Mercer Canada. It found 65 per cent of Canadian human-resources leaders believe their company has continued or stepped up the pace towards an environmental, social and governance- […]
After a turbulent 2020 brought with it the coronavirus pandemic and a global call for social justice, companies prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion in its wake should start by reviewing their benefits plans to ensure there’s enough flexibility to meet the needs of these times and inclusivity for employees from all backgrounds, says Kim Siddall, […]
Only five per cent of Canadian employers provide coverage for both fertility drugs and related costs such as in-vitro fertilization procedures and testing, according to a new report commissioned by Conceivable Dreams and Fertility Matters Canada. It found more than 85 per cent of benefit plans that covered fertility-related issues had lifetime maximums in place […]
Mandy Kwasnica and her husband so desperately wanted to adopt they were ready to sink all of their money (and then some) into making their dream a reality. “Adoption is very, very expensive, but we knew in our hearts that this was the right move we were making,” recalls the manager of mortgage sales support at […]
Enbridge Inc. is undertaking a series of steps to further diversify its workforce and address anti-Black systemic racism, starting with signing onto the BlackNorth Initiative pledge. Founded by the Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism, the pledge asks senior business leaders across the country to commit to undertaking specific actions and targets […]
A series of legislative changes to Canada’s labour code aiming to make workplaces healthier, safer and fairer took effect as of Jan. 1, 2021. The changes include new pay transparency regulations for federally regulated, private sector employers with 100 or more employees. According to a press release, the move makes Canada the first country to […]
As we approach the end of a truly challenging year with more uncertainty on the horizon for 2021, people all over the globe are adjusting to the new realities of their personal and professional lives. No one is unaffected. In a broad sense, the world of employment is now divided between people working at home […]
While professional services company Accenture has long been supportive of its working parents, it introduced a new backup childcare program in 2020 to help employees with the challenges precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic. “When the pandemic hit, our working parents found themselves homeschooling their kids while juggling the demands of remote work,” says Susan Goodyer, […]
Gender diversity is increasing on the boards of Canada’s 100 largest publicly-traded companies, according to a new report by KPMG Canada. It found women comprised 34 per cent of new board appointments since 2014. These women were slightly younger than their male counterparts, more educated, far more likely to come from outside the organization and […]
The federal government is introducing new pay transparency regulations for federally regulated, private sector employers with 100 or more employees. The legislative amendment to the Equity Act, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2021, aims to help address equality and inclusion issues in the workplace. With the move, Canada will be the first country to make wage […]