Alberta’s move to enter the captive insurance market could have significant benefits for employers in the province. On Dec. 2, 2021, the province’s proposed Bill 76, the Captive Insurance Companies Act, received royal assent, taking it one step closer to becoming law. If passed, the legislation will make Alberta the second province, after British Columbia, to […]
While 70 per cent of benefits-eligible U.S. workers said they’re more likely to work for an employer that offers employee-paid voluntary benefits, just 49 per cent said they’ve taken advantage of these offerings, according to a new survey by Voya Financial Inc. The survey, which polled around 1,000 respondents, found 31 per cent don’t fully […]
The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is launching an industry initiative to pool claims data and use advanced artificial intelligence tools to enhance the detection and investigation of benefits fraud. While all Canadian insurance companies have their own internal analytics to detect fraud within their book of business, the new initiative — led by […]
Lower-income workers across Ontario have lower rates of employer-provided dental insurance, according to a new report by the Toronto Foundation. In addition, the community foundation found the problem is more pronounced in Toronto. For example, 53 per cent of employees earning under $20,000 annually have workplace dental insurance in the rest of Ontario, while the same […]
It’s a Catch-22, this rise in the focus on mental health. Nearly two years after the coronavirus became a household name, employers are still ramping up their mental-health supports, a testament to the sustained attention to making people’s mental wellness a focal point — in the workplace, at home and in society at large. But […]
Nearly two years into the coronavirus pandemic, leading Canadian employers are demonstrating their unwavering commitment to supporting their employees’ mental health. In fact, Benefits Canada’s 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards’ mental-health category was so packed with standout entries that it was split into two categories based on company size. The four finalists and two winners have […]
Landing in the emergency room in the middle of the night was a wake-up call for Margaret Eaton. She started a new job as the Canadian Mental Health Association’s national chief executive officer in January 2020. Then, about two months into her new gig, the coronavirus pandemic hit. As the pandemic’s finish line kept moving […]
Making mental health and well-being the foundation of an organization’s culture wields success for employers. Well before the coronavirus pandemic put mental health in the spotlight, Schneider Electric was taking a proactive approach to psychological safety in the workplace by naming it as a priority and building a culture of inclusion that allows employees to […]
Sobeys Inc.’s mental-health program manager discusses simplifying support, the echo pandemic and the joys of new parenthood. Q: What top challenges do you face in your role? A: My role was created during the pandemic, so it’s probably no surprise that [mental health] tops the list. Sobeys’ workforce is made up primarily of essential workers […]
While 85 per cent of employees believe workplace perks are as important or more important to them now than before the coronavirus pandemic, 65 per cent said their employer hasn’t added any new perks since the pandemic’s onset, according to a new survey by workplace management platform Robin Powered Inc. The survey, which polled nearly 600 full-time employees, […]