Legal aid workers who are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1949 have signed a tentative agreement that includes an increase in vision care benefits, sick and vacation leave and wages. “This is not just good news for our members, it’s a major victory for our most vulnerable citizens who rely on legal aid services […]
When fathers take paternity leave, it can actually benefit the health of new mothers, according to a study by economists at Stanford University. The study looked at the effects of a 2012 Swedish law that allows fathers to take up to 30 days off work, as needed, the year after the birth of a child, but […]
Mercer Canada has appointed Myriam Bélanger as a principal advisor on its health team. Based in the organization’s Montreal office, she’ll be responsible for managing group benefits plans of various sizes and structure. With more than 10 years of experience managing group plans, Bélanger previously held various roles at Montreal-based financial services firms. Read: Mercer, Wealthsimple launch online savings, investment tool “Group […]
Plan sponsors can expect to see a three to five per cent increase in prescription drug claims in 2019, according to Buck’s annual Canadian health-care trend survey. However, the survey noted, since insurance providers also add a market inflation factor, the projected increase is actually 10.99 per cent, down from 12.45 per cent in 2018. Based […]
The American Association of Retired Persons Foundation and the law firm Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald and Pirrotti have filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Yale University employees who are objecting to their employer instituting fines for those who don’t participate in its wellness program. The university’s program requires its 5,000 unionized staff and their spouses to submit to medical […]
A growing body of international evidence indicates education, prevention efforts and early intervention are critical to people’s mental health, according to a new study at the University of British Columbia. Mental-health efforts are taking place “across social systems and within organizational structures, including public health, educational institutions and workplaces,” noted the study, authored by Miranda Massie, a […]
Plan sponsors are increasingly adopting plan design tools to manage their drug plan costs, according to Telus Health’s annual drug trends report. It found private plan drug costs have grown 0.3 per cent per year on average for the past 10 years, made up of an average 2.1 per cent annual decrease in the cost […]
The majority (80 per cent) of working Canadians reported their overall well-being would improve if their employer offered a personalized wellness program customized to their specific wellness and health-related interests and goals, according to a new survey by RBC Insurance. If they were offered this type of program, survey respondents also said they’d see improvements […]
People who work in negative environments have an increased chance of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a new study published in the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The study found that employees in “mistrustful environments” had greater risk factors for heart disease, including smoking, poor diet and obesity. It also noted that the prevalence of cardiovascular disease […]
If the Canada-United States-Mexico trade agreement goes through it could have a significant impact on the cost of private drug plans. Currently on hold until members of Parliament return to Ottawa after the summer break, the agreement as written would extend the data protection term for biologic drugs to 10 years from the current eight. If […]