The 10 highest-cost drugs reimbursed by public drug plans in Canada in the 2021/22 fiscal year were all rare disease treatments with annual treatment costs of more than $250,000, according to a new report by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. It found the increased use of high-cost drugs continued to be the main factor […]
Workplace wellness and employee mental health are popular topics of discussion and top priorities for organizations across Canada — and that conversation will continue in 2024 as organizations take a more preventative, strategic and holistic approach. Over the past couple of years, employers have been responding to mental-health needs within their workplace as a reaction […]
A story about the B.C. Lottery Corp.’s new inclusive holiday program was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the past week. 1. BCLC allowing employees to swap statutory holidays for personal, cultural days of significance 2. My Take: Obesity should be treated like […]
The government of Nova Scotia is introducing a new benefits and pension package for roughly 3,000 early childhood educators and support staff. All employees will be enrolled in the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology’s DBplus pension plan. The province will fund employers to provide pension contributions retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024. The province will […]
As someone who has become increasingly overweight in the last few years, every time I read or write about obesity being referred to as a ‘lifestyle condition’ it makes me physically cringe. Yes, some poor diet choices have contributed to my current physical condition, but it’s much more complex than that. And I know others […]
Any employer focused on attracting and retaining great people understands the importance of providing a competitive benefits program that supports employees through all stages of their health and well-being. The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan’s annual Canadian employer pension survey found a growing number of businesses are opting to improve benefits as a means to […]
A story about why employers might want to reconsider urging employees to use up their benefits was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the past week. 1. Expert warns against urging employees to use up benefits by end of year 2. Worker demand […]
Hub International Ltd. is acquiring Montreal-based CGC Consultants Inc. CGC is an advisory firm that specializes in human resources strategy, recruitment, pay equity, global compensation, governance and communication, according to a press release, which noted Claudio Gardonio, managing partner at CGC, will join Hub Quebec. Read: Hub acquiring Calgary benefits provider Hub is also acquiring […]
A story on how plan sponsors and insurers are considering covering weight-loss drugs as part of a broader push towards more inclusive benefits was the most-read benefits story on BenefitsCanada.com this year. Here are the 10 most popular benefits news stories of the year: 1. How plan sponsors, insurers are considering coverage of weight-loss drugs amid rising […]
With the end of the year approaching, some employers and health practitioners may feel the need to tell employees to use up their benefits, but Rob Van De Cappelle, national benefits consultant at Cowan Insurance Group, cautions against this approach. “I tell employers and employees the benefits plan is there to keep you healthy and […]