Nearly half (44 per cent) of employers that offer retirement benefits said employee productivity has been better than normal over the past year, compared to 29 per cent of employers that don’t offer retirement benefits, according to a survey by Maru Group Ltd. on behalf of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan. The survey, which […]
Sun Life is buying DentaQuest, a U.S.-based provider of dental benefits, for $3.1 billion. The company, which offers dental benefits through employers, will become part of Sun Life’s U.S. business. The insurer said the acquisition will more than double the size of its U.S. employee benefits business by revenue. DentaQuest currently has more than 33 million members in 36 […]
Various forms of digital health care have been available in Canada for several years, but I’d argue nothing has accelerated the awareness, need and adoption of these services more than the current coronavirus pandemic. No one has been untouched by this pandemic, which has compelled us to rethink our previous ways of doing things in […]
The majority (81.5 per cent) of plan members participating in digital wellness programs experienced improvements for a wide range of health indicators across 30 months, according to a new study by the Institute of Health Economics in partnership with Alberta Blue Cross. Equally important, the study found cost savings for benefits plans with a corresponding […]
Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada’s group benefits and Lumino Health platform are rebranding as Sun Life Health, a new business unit focused on empowering Canadians to live their healthiest lives no matter where they are in their wellness journey. “Sun Life Health brings these areas of expertise together, providing Canadians with a partner on their […]
The coronavirus pandemic is changing what perks millennial managers consider “must haves,” according to a new survey by MetLife Inc. It found millennial managers (ages 26 to 40) are significantly more likely to describe pet insurance (up 58 per cent), legal services (up 50 per cent) and financial planning tools (up 40 per cent) as “must […]
The federal election is top of mind for many these days, so it’s no surprise Benefits Canada‘s most-read story over the past seven days was about the possible impact the election could have on the human resources, benefits and pension industries. Here’s the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. How will federal election […]
A third term for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau means some significant promises with the potential to impact employers and employees may soon become reality. During its campaign, the Liberal Party pledged to support workplace coronavirus vaccination mandates, a national childcare program, expanded public mental-health offerings and a right-to-disconnect policy. On vaccination mandates, the Liberals promised […]
Germany is stopping sick pay for unvaccinated people who have to go into quarantine because of the coronavirus. Previously, Germans could claim for income lost due to having to go into quarantine after returning from abroad or coming into contact with a positive case. Germany’s Health Minister Jens Spahn says the move was a matter of […]
The union representing employees at the Globe and Mail has ratified a new three-year contract that will provide a $1,500 mental-health benefit. Howard Law, director for the media sector at Unifor, says the mental-health benefit was increased from $850 and won’t be subject to the overall paramedical cap of $1,500. Read: Reliance Home Comfort, Unifor […]