The federal government’s 2022 budget, which set out $56 billion in new spending on Thursday, has a few offerings that could impact employers and employees. Dental-care program, pharmacare The budget confirmed the government’s commitment to rolling out a national dental-care program, which was announced in March, by specifying a $5.3-billion investment in its implementation. It also […]
While 78 per cent of U.S. employees are reporting increased stress levels and feelings of burnout, only 40 per cent said their employer offers mental-health benefits or resources, compared to 53 per cent in 2021, 46 per cent in 2020 and 45 per cent in 2019, according to a new survey by Employ Inc. The […]
Ahead of the upcoming provincial election, Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca is promising several benefits for employees and employers in his economic platform. The platform, announced ahead of the 2022 election campaign, includes providing all Ontario workers with portable drug, dental and mental-health services; matching up to $1,000 in annual retirement savings for long-income earners, […]
Rio Tinto Group is making parental leave more accessible for employees by removing the distinction between primary and secondary caregivers. The policy change — which takes effect in Canada in June and will be implemented worldwide by the end of 2023 — provides all new parents with 18 weeks of 100 per cent paid parental […]
An agreement reached between the federal Liberals and New Democrats this week will prioritize work on a dental-care program, national pharmacare and paid leave. The deal will see the NDP support the Liberals on matters of confidence until 2025. The dental-care program and national pharmacare, which the NDP have long championed, had to get Liberal buy-in for the […]
A Toronto-based non-profit organization is compensating prospective employees by paying them for their time during interviews. FoodShare Toronto’s new policy, which took effect March 1, pays interviewees a fixed rate of $75, regardless of the position. In addition, if an interview requires the candidate to complete an assignment or prepare a presentation, they’re also compensated […]
Organon Canada is marking International Women’s Day by giving all employees a paid day off to reflect on the workplace gender disparities that have grown since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Litsa Spiridonakos, director of human resources at the women’s health-care company, says the response to the paid day off — including how it […]
Xero Ltd. is enhancing its parental leave benefits to make them inclusive to all employees on the path to parenthood. Starting Feb. 1, 2022, the public technology company’s Canadian and U.S. employees are eligible for $12,600 or US$10,000, respectively, through a global fertility benefits provider that offers family forming services — from adoption to surrogacy, […]
Thomson Reuters Corp. is providing employees with additional flexibility and paid leave to further support well-being and work-life balance. The media company is allowing employees to work from anywhere within their country of residence for up to eight weeks. In addition, employees can now take up to 10 paid days of caregiver leave, while bereavement […]
The Toronto-Dominion Bank is enhancing its benefits offerings in 2022 with expanded family planning coverage. The bank’s benefits program is now covering fertility and reproductive treatments and offering support for surrogacy or donor costs and adoption costs, with a $20,000 lifetime maximum for each benefit, says Melanie Burns, TD’s senior vice-president of human resources and talent […]