As the second anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic approaches, Canadian employers are leveraging all the tools in their health and wellness toolbox to stave off employee burnout and a looming spike in disability leaves. Employers are still investing in virtual health-care supports in a bid to help employees manage burnout and other adverse effects of […]
Nearly a third (31 per cent) of employees believe flexible hours and more sick days are the support tools they need most from employers as they endure the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey by Pollara Strategic Insights in partnership with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Enterprise Canada and Prosperity Project. The survey, which […]
This summer, KPMG in Canada is helping staff refresh and recharge by making every weekend a long weekend. As the country prepares to enter the third year of the coronavirus pandemic, the professional services firm is giving employees in Canada seven additional paid days off in July and August that will fall on weekends that […]
IKEA Canada’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are helping employees step into the shoes of their fellow workers and highlighting how DEI and employee mental health are inextricably tied. “A big part of who we are is stories,” says John Williams, the organization’s DEI lead. “We really believe stories matter because they shape how we […]
While it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas for some employees these days, employers aiming to be inclusive during the holiday season and year-round can think beyond the Christian-centric calendar. Nora Jenkins Townson, the founder and principal of Bright + Early, has taken being inclusive one step further by giving staff at the human […]
Workers in B.C. will be eligible for “fair and balanced” sick leave pay that provides a minimum of five days a year starting Jan. 1, 2022, according to Labour Minister Harry Bains. The new sick leave policy affects all workers covered by the province’s Employment Standards Act, including part-time workers, he added. “I firmly believe that […]
Canadian employees want more comprehensive coverage under their benefits plans, according to a survey by the Conference Board of Canada and Telus Health. The survey, which polled more than 1,500 Canadian workers, found a majority (82 per cent) of respondents want basic dental services (such as preventative and minor restorative) covered by their benefits plans, […]
By beefing up its benefits programs and putting flexibility at the core of its offerings, Willful has been able to grow its staff amid a coronavirus pandemic-fueled tight labour market. The online estate planning company credits its fulsome total rewards package and its flexible workplace culture for its recruitment success. As a very small employer […]
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 […]
On the first day of her period, Amy Saunders says she’s often stuck in bed with a hot water bottle, downing painkillers and drinking tea. “I’ve always had painful periods,” she says. “I’ve definitely had to use sick days or vacation days in the past,” says Saunders, the communications director for Diva International Inc., who […]