Mental-health benefits offerings are on the rise, with the share of Canadian organizations that provide mental-health coverage nearly doubling over the past five years, according to a new survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The survey, released this week to coincide with World Mental Health Day, found more than three-quarters (79 per cent) […]
Scotiabank is providing its eligible Canadian employees with an additional two paid personal days to support their mental health. Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, the bank’s Canadian workforce will have a total of five personal days and the flexibility to take them as needed, in addition to existing sick and vacation days. “Our people are our […]
Hub International Ltd. is acquiring ProCorp Financial Inc., an Ottawa-based boutique benefits and retirement consulting firm. Hugh Doyle, president of ProCorp Financial, will join Hub Ontario and report to Matt Lievers, president of employee benefits and retirement at Hub Ontario. “We are thrilled to welcome Hugh and the ProCorp Financial team to Hub,” said Gregory Belton, executive chairman of Hub Ontario. “ProCorp […]
Equitable Life Insurance Co. of Canada is expanding the services it offers to plan sponsors through its partnership with Homewood Health Inc. While the insurer has worked with Homewood Health for seven years to provide plan members on disability with specialized return-to-work support, it will now make the latter organization’s employee assistance program and online health and wellness […]
SSQ Life Insurance Co. Inc. is adding pharmacogenetic testing to its group insurance offering. Pharmacogenetic testing helps determine how a person’s DNA reacts to prescription drugs, which makes it easier for doctors to choose the most effective medications for their patients. SSQ said it expects the offering will make it easier for plan members to access […]
Hub International Ltd. is acquiring Saskatoon-based Regency Advisory Corp., an employee benefits consulting firm. “We continue to build on our efforts to add talented organizations like Regency to boost our employee benefits and pension capabilities in Canada,” said Keith Jordan, president and chief executive officer of Hub International Manitoba Ltd., in a press release. “Regency has been involved in many […]
Great-West Life Assurance Co. is launching a mobile-friendly health and wellness platform with strategic features to encourage plan members to take charge of their own health. Health Connected includes digital health coaching, which allows users to complete a comprehensive, personalized health-risk assessment outlining risks across 15 health and wellness categories, as well as their standing in seven core skills mastered by […]
The Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that a strict examination of the language of an incentive plan is the key to determining whether a terminated employee is entitled to damages for a lost opportunity to earn incentive plan compensation during the reasonable notice period. “If there’s something in the language that clearly entitles the […]
Canadian employers are going beyond traditional health benefits to address all the facets of their employees’ well-being, according to a new survey by global staffing firm Robert Half. The survey found employers are offering physical (63 per cent), financial (65 per cent) and mental (73 per cent) wellness programs. As well, organizations are covering at least some of the […]
Canadian employees suffering from mental-health issues aren’t accessing support through their workplace benefits, according to new data from Sun Life Canada. The data found 59 per cent of working Canadians said they’ve experienced a mental-health issue, an increase from 52 per cent in 2017. Among this group, 60 per cent said they aren’t accessing support through their workplace benefits […]