While research so far indicates being a mental-health first aid trainee is neither clearly beneficial or harmful, it’s also important to consider potential risks and ensure there’s oversight and governance. Dr. Bill Howatt, founder of Howatt Human Resources As a trained mental-health professional, I approach mental-health training critically. Mental-health first aid training can be a […]
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 […]
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 […]
An article on how a national drug pooling program would impact employer-sponsored benefits plans 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. How would a national drug pooling program impact employer-sponsored benefits plans? 2. Leadership changes at the AIMCo […]
Most employees have experienced the powerful impact, whether positive or negative, that a manager can have on their work experience and overall well-being. As conversations about mental health become more common in the workplace, the expectation for support and accommodation has grown. However, many managers still feel unequipped and lack confidence in addressing mental-health issues […]
The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan’s extensive benefits coverage and focus on cross-collaboration landed the company a win in the Mental Health Program category for employers with fewer than 1,000 employees at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 18. The HOOPP’s mental-health strategy is designed to drive a program that educates and empowers employees and their […]
TMX Group Ltd. was the winner at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards for its diligent approach to mapping out a future workplace that leaves the one-size-fits-all office in the past. The financial services company was this year’s winner in the Future of Work Strategy category for its hybrid-first way of working experiment, which was designed to […]
Roughly one in ten (11 per cent) of all leaves of absence among U.S. workers in the first quarter of 2024 were due to mental health — a 22 per cent increase from this period last year, according to a new report by ComPsych Corp. The report, which analyzed ComPsych’s absence book of business that […]
While self-management strategies for mental health can empower plan members, plan sponsors also have a role to play in creating a work environment that’s conducive to mental wellness, said Simon Coulombe, professor of industrial relations at Laval University, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health Summit in June. “We know part of the […]