The Canada Life Assurance Co. is eliminating plastic drug plan cards, with an aim to move to a completely digital experience for group plan members by 2021. Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, the insurer will begin encouraging its group benefits plan sponsors to opt out of providing plastic drug cards to members. With advancements in digital […]
Canadian insurance and risk management brokerage Navacord Corp. is acquiring Concord, Ont.-based SmartChoice Benefits Inc. The acquisition will allow Navacord to enter the third-party administration space, noted a press release. “It also shows our commitment to building the required scale, carrier relationships, . . . products and technology solutions to place us among the leaders in the Canadian market for […]
The union representing 33 employees of the Northumberland County social services department says the county is attempting to weaken employees’ short-term disability leave and remove their right to work a compressed workweek. On Dec. 12, the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3725 began contract negotiations with the county using a provincially appointed conciliator. Union members […]
Employees at Eacom Timber Corp. have a new six-year collective agreement, which includes improvements to the pension and benefits plan. The lumber operation employs 160 people at its Timmins, Ont. mill and regional administrative centre, 110 of whom are members of the United Steelworkers Local 1-2010. Prior to the agreement, employees contributed a mandatory $120 […]
Green Shield Canada is teaming up with virtual health-care provider Maple to offer telemedicine to its plan members. The partnership aims to reduce employee absences and boost both productivity and well-being, according to a press release. Read: Just 9% of employers offer virtual health care: survey “Canadians face some of the longest wait times when compared to […]
Mercer is teaming up with Lift Digital Inc., an artificial intelligence-based fitness and wellness platform, to bring customized, on-demand digital fitness to employers and employees. The Mercer 365 platform, combined with Lift, will provide access to a number of fitness offerings, including customized and automated fitness sessions, access to wellness experts via chat, live online group classes and Lift […]
In 2020, Canadian employees are looking for more than just strong compensation, with 76 per cent of respondents citing at least three weeks of vacation, followed by health and dental packages (52 per cent) and opportunities to work from home (43 per cent), according to a new survey by Hays Specialist Recruitment (Canada) Inc. On the employer side, 42 […]
The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed a complaint from a Molson Coors Beverage Co. retiree who alleged the company’s employee benefits plan was discriminatory on the basis of age. The tribunal found providing reduced benefits to employees over the age of 65 isn’t considered discrimination under the province’s Human Rights Code. The decision […]
Perceptions of the stigma around receiving professional psychological help can be a barrier to seeking out mental-health services, according to a new study. The study, which was published by the Employee Assistance Trade Association’s EASNA Research Notes, looked into perceptions of stigma in relation to seeking help from employee assistance programs in a sample of […]
Whether it direct or indirect, mental illness affects everyone. Beyond an individual’s personal suffering, which can range from mild to severe, the effects are also felt by their families, as well as their employers. Fortunately, many organizations are looking for new ways to proactively care for their employees’ whole health, including their mental health. Roughly half a million Canadians miss […]