A British Columbia labour arbitration decision is providing insight on how a block level implementation of a benefits provider’s drug cost-control program violated a collective agreement in a unionized workplace. The Douglas College Faculty Association grieved the implementation of Manulife’s DrugWatch program contravened their collective agreement, which ensured “there will be no change to the […]
More than two years into a gruelling pandemic, with many Canadians facing the added challenge of navigating a return to the office, companies are embracing a range of approaches to help workers coping with mental-health challenges. But experts say lip service remains a hazard that too many boardrooms still fall back on. A top-to-bottom shift […]
Over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, health-care spending and wellness accounts have been vital tools in employers’ support toolboxes. Whether it’s increasing the dollar amount allotted to these accounts or broadening the eligible services covered under wellness accounts, employers are maximizing these offerings to help employees endure the prolonged public health crisis. Since HCSAs […]
Twitter Inc.’s head of total rewards discusses personalized offerings, the benefits of an employee learning allowance and travelling post-pandemic. Q: What top challenges do you face in your role? A: Remaining competitive for talent is top of mind these days. Post-pandemic, employees and potential talent consider their quality of life and personal fulfillment as important […]
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is adding gender affirmation coverage to its benefits program and enhancing existing offerings such as paid parental leave and fertility treatments. The gender affirmation benefit will cover specific gender transition surgeries and procedures not covered by provincial programs to an annual maximum of $10,000 and a lifetime maximum of $25,000, according to […]
Roughly two-fifths (37 per cent) of U.S. employers are increasing the quality of their existing benefits offerings to help with employee retention and attraction efforts, according to a survey by Principal Financial Services Inc. The survey, which polled 500 employers and 200 employees, found the top three enhanced benefits are short- and long-term disability insurance, […]
CGI Group Inc. is marking Mental Health Awareness Month by raising money for mental-health causes through its employee recognition program. Through an internal platform called Applaud, employees can recognize colleagues who exemplify CGI’s six core values. For each employee recognized this month, CGI is donating $10 to the Canadian Mental Health Association. Read: CGI Group to […]
The coronavirus pandemic has marked a sea change in how Canadians receive health care. While just four per cent of primary care visits were conducted virtually pre-pandemic, that rose to roughly 60 per cent after the onset of the global health crisis. This represents an opportunity to reshape how health care can be delivered and, in […]
Canadian employers are turning their focus to updating their benefits plans and ensuring a strong employee experience in an effort to address the challenges employees are facing in the coronavirus pandemic and to attract key talent in a tight labour market. “Many companies are adding new services to their benefits plans to support their employees […]
Living with Type 1 diabetes is like having a full-time job on top of managing a day job and life commitments — one that involves making constant risk assessments and difficult decisions throughout the day. “‘How many carbs did I eat? How much insulin do I need for that? Am I going to exercise later […]