The use of obesity medications among Canadian employer-sponsored benefits plan members has grown substantially, with claims increasing 42 per cent in 2023 and roughly 92 per cent since 2020, according to a new report by Manulife Financial Corp. The report, based on aggregate claims data, found more women are using obesity drugs than men (79 […]
The union representing more than 460 employees at Nestlé in Toronto has ratified a three-year collective agreement that includes pension and benefits gains, ending a strike that began on May 5. The agreement includes a $1 increase each year in the defined benefit pension plan for non-skilled trades and $2 each year for skilled trades. […]
CAA Club Group’s award-winning health and wellness strategy is showing employees, as well as potential candidates, that the organization is focused on supporting the holistic well-being needs of its workforce. Last year, the organization’s extensive employee well-being program led it to win Benefits Canada’s 2023 Workplace Benefits Awards in the Health/wellness program category for employers […]
This Mental Health Week and beyond, employers can support employee mental health using digital toolkits, mental-health coaching and by providing adequate coverage, says Marie-Chantal Côtè, senior vice-president of group benefits at Sun Life Financial Inc. Mental-health practitioner claims more than doubled between 2019 and 2023, according to a recent report by Sun Life that examined claims […]
While the coronavirus pandemic may be in the rearview mirror for most employers, the Ontario-based Workplace Safety and Insurance Board knows all too well that the shadow pandemic that emerged from the health crisis is still impacting employees in the workplace. At a time when some employers are considering cutting back on mental-health benefits, the […]
The union representing 120 employees working across Canada for U.S. telecommunications company Zayo Group has ratified a four-year collective agreement that includes pension and benefits gains. Unifor Local 2000A was able to protect and maintain the company’s defined benefit pension plan; however, the employee contribution will increase from three per cent to 4.5 per cent. […]
Since decreased cognition can impact retirees’ ability to make sound decisions, the Canadian Union of Public Employees urges its members to discuss financial matters with their families long before exiting the workforce. “If we wait until we’re in distress, we either make very bad decisions or we don’t make any decisions at all, which can […]
The union representing more than 160 employees at facilities services provider Robinson Solutions in Oshawa, Ont. has ratified a three-year collective agreement that includes pension and benefits gains. The agreement includes enrolment in the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology’s DBplus pension plan with a two per cent employer contribution. As well, full-time employees will […]
Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. is tailoring its benefits and wellness programs to its unique demographics to more effectively support employee well-being, said Donna Burnett Vachon, the company’s director of change and organization development, during Benefits Canada‘s 2023 Healthy Outcomes Conference in October. The company has four subsidiaries, with each doing slightly different types of work, […]
Flight Centre Travel Group’s holistic approach to employee wellness resulted in a win at Benefits Canada’s 2023 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 20. The company won in the Health/wellness program category for employers with fewer than 1,000 employees for its Healthwise program. This year, Flight Centre focused on several key wellness areas, including relationships and connections, […]