More than 19 months into the coronavirus pandemic, employers are focusing on enhanced mental-health offerings and streamlined communications for their benefits and pension plans. During a virtual roundtable on Oct. 14, the 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards finalists discussed the changes brought about by the pandemic and how they’ve adapted their benefits and pensions offerings, while looking […]
Unilever Canada Inc.’s fulsome approach to diversity, equity and inclusion led to its win in the diversity program category at Benefits Canada’s 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 14. At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Unilever Canada adopted the mantra “we’re navigating the same ocean, in different boats.” The adage, which created a shared sense of […]
One in three (33 per cent) women in the U.S. said they’ve considered downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce this year, compared to one in four (25 per cent) who said this a few months into the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org. It also found 40 per […]
While 53 per cent of employees said their employer has provided good support during the coronavirus pandemic, 40 per cent reported difficulty in accessing mental-health care through their workplace benefits plan, according to a new survey by Mercer. The survey, conducted among 14,000 employees across 13 countries, found access to quality mental-health care was more […]
A third of investment organizations participating in the CFA Institute’s recent diversity, equity and inclusion program said they’ve trained between 81 and 99 per cent of their employees in detecting unconscious bias or practicing inclusive leadership, according to a new survey. The survey — conducted across 41 investment organizations that participated in the 2020 program […]
Walmart Inc. is expanding its benefits to include coverage of doula care for employees under its medical plan in Georgia. The company recently announced it was providing up to US$1,000 per pregnancy for all its employees in the southern U.S. state. For employees to obtain the coverage, the doulas must be credentialed through either DONA […]
As a “symbol of our collective sorrow,” IKEA Canada lowered its flags in response to the news of the grim discovery of mass graves at former residential schools in this country. The home goods retailer has also been talking with several Indigenous-led organizations to development its reconciliation strategy and has shared resources, including via its employee […]
The Bank of Montreal is empowering employees to become allies for their co-workers in the LGBTQ2S+ community. As part of its Zero Barriers to Inclusion 2025 strategy, released in September 2020, BMO launched its Road to Allyship training program to help employees on their own journey to allyship during Pride Month this June. The program […]
When it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, Canadian employers have room for improvement, according to a new series of LinkedIn polls conducted by LHH. In one poll, 39 per cent of employees said their workplace still didn’t feel inclusive, despite the rise in visible corporate diversity, equity and inclusion committees and programs. By […]
By encouraging employees to be their authentic selves at work, pension plans can make better investment decisions, says Adrian Mitchell, vice-president of public equities at the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan. “I think having some out LGBTQ people around demonstrates to everyone else it’s safe to be who you are. We’re going to make better […]