The percentage of female benefits plan members using fertility drugs rose by roughly 12 per cent between 2019 and 2023, according to a new report by Manulife Financial Corp. The report, which analyzed the insurer’s 2024 aggregate claims data, found between 2021 and 2023, 15 per cent of new mothers made claims for mental-health treatments within […]
Despite the prevalence of pregnancy loss, many employers still don’t have a plan in place that adequately supports employees experiencing this type of loss, says Michelle La Fontaine, a program manager at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre’s Pregnancy and Infant Loss Network. “We’ve heard a variety of experiences from families who have experienced pregnancy and infant […]
To help working mothers with the sometimes overwhelming task of maintaining a work-life balance, employers can invest in inclusive, flexible policies and provide support when parents return to work, says Christine Tatham, chief people officer at Redbrick. Early in Tatham’s career and after having her first baby, a former boss asked her if she wanted […]
The union representing more than 250 employees at Woodbridge Foam Corp. in Woodbridge, Ont. has ratified a three-year agreement that includes pension and benefits gains. The agreement includes the introduction of the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology’s DBplus pension plan at a two per cent employer match. It also increases annual vision coverage from […]
Global law firm Clyde & Co is rolling out a globally-consistent parental leave offering that will be available to all employees and partners with at least 12 months of service. At its core, the offering includes 26 weeks of fully paid leave, regardless of gender or parental role, and replaces previous maternity and paternity leave […]
Two-thirds (65 per cent) of working mothers in Canada are experiencing a difficult mental-health load caused by balancing their work and family responsibilities, according to a new survey by Capterra Inc. The survey, which polled nearly 1,000 Canadian employees, found 46 per cent of working mothers felt more likely to be overlooked for promotion opportunities, […]
Arthritis Society Canada is supporting female employees by including menopause in its accommodation policy. The policy identifies ways in which a menopausal woman might require similar accommodations as a pregnant woman and includes adjusting an employee’s job responsibilities, finding alternate work and taking leave, says Trish Barbato, president and chief executive officer at Arthritis Society Canada. “I see […]
New Zealand’s parliament unanimously approved legislation last month that gives couples the right to three days of paid leave after a miscarriage or stillbirth, making it one of the first countries in the world to do so. While the country had previously required employers to provide paid leave in the event of a stillbirth — […]