Fewer than half (45 per cent) of Canadian employees say they’re satisfied with their employer’s benefits plan, according to Telus Health’s latest mental-health index. The survey, which polled roughly 3,000 employees, found the average mental-health score was 63.5 in December, virtually unchanged from November (63.4). Anxiety (56.8) continued to be the lowest mental-health sub-score, followed […]
Amid the ongoing tariff dispute between Canada and the U.S., employers can support employee mental health by reminding them of available mental-health benefits and being transparent in their communication, says Kim Siddall, national vice-president of client strategy at People Corporation. She notes the impact of the trade war on employee mental health is two-fold, encompassing […]
The cumulative cost of mental illness is estimated to reach $2.5 trillion by 2041, according to a report by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation. The coronavirus pandemic led many to seek out help, which subsequently increased mental-health costs. “We saw people who were obviously quite isolated,” says Dr. Donna Ferguson, a clinical […]
Most Canadian benefits plan sponsors (89 per cent) and members (73 per cent) agree their workplace environment supports mental wellness, according to the 2024 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. On the converse, about a quarter (27 per cent) of plan members disagreed. Despite the mostly positive perspectives, a quarter is still a significant portion of the […]
While the conversation around mental-health benefits is typically focused on coverage levels, it’s important for employers to unpack the entire mental-health bucket and consider the impacts of other factors like psychological safety and diversity, equity and inclusion. Paula Allen, global leader and vice-president of research and client insights at Telus Health, says there’s a great […]
A majority (65 per cent) of Canadian employers say they have or are working on implementing a diversity, equity and inclusion policy, while 44 per cent of this group said they’re focusing on DEI to attract and retain employees, according to Benefits Canada’s 2024 Future of Work Survey. It found around three-quarters (72 per cent) […]
An article on why a majority of Canadians are planning to switch jobs this year was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Six in 10 Canadian employees planning to change jobs this year: survey 2. Acera Insurance’s group […]
The previous year was an interesting one in the world of employee benefits plans. Over the previous 12 months, employers have navigated the explosion of claims for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist medications like Ozempic, some forward momentum on national pharmacare and some employers changed their approach to diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Here are five […]
While ‘Blue Monday’ may highlight the importance of employee mental health, supporting workers’ psychological safety is a year-round duty, says Mara Notarfonzo, vice-president of total rewards at CAA Club Group. “I think a lot of organizations definitely do concentrate on specific initiatives or events on that day and during that week — so do we, […]
Heading into 2025, the workplace mental-health landscape in Canada continues to transform and grow. Employers continue to recognize that prioritizing mental health is a critical factor in organizational success. Here are three key areas that are shaping the evolution of mental health in the workplace and how employers can take the lead: Breaking the Silence […]