A majority (83 per cent) of Canadian benefits plan members have at least one concern regarding returning to the workplace, including commuting time (44 per cent), people who don’t follow public health safety measures (42 per cent) and working/interacting with co-workers who aren’t vaccinated against the coronavirus (38 per cent), according to the 2021 Benefits Canada […]
Over two-thirds (66 per cent) of Canadian benefits plan members said they feel less connected to their co-workers and employers over the past year since shifting to remote working amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the 2021 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. That number rose for respondents who said they aren’t satisfied with their jobs (73 […]
The shift to remote working due to the coronavirus pandemic is helping 77 per cent of employees with chronic conditions and/or chronic pain miss less work, according to the 2021 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. Just over a third (34 per cent) of plan members said remote working definitely helped them miss less work due to their […]
More than 19 months into the coronavirus pandemic, employers are focusing on enhanced mental-health offerings and streamlined communications for their benefits and pension plans. During a virtual roundtable on Oct. 14, the 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards finalists discussed the changes brought about by the pandemic and how they’ve adapted their benefits and pensions offerings, while looking […]
The Ontario government is introducing legislation that will require employers with 25 or more employees to draft a right-to-disconnect policy. On Monday, Monte McNaughton, the province’s minister of labour, training and skills development, announced the move as part of the Working for Workers Act 2021, as the Ontario government gears up for an election next […]
American Express Co. is eyeing January for the tentative launch of its hybrid working model. In an internal memo, Stephen J. Squeri, chairman and chief executive officer of American Express, said the model will go into effect only in locations where the company makes a full return to the office, likely starting with Germany, the […]
3M Canada’s long-term focus on helping employees “refresh, re-energize and feel well” secured the company a win at Benefits Canada’s 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 14. The manufacturing company won in the Health/wellness program category for an employer with more than 1,000 employees for its ever-evolving comprehensive wellness program, called Empowering Healthy Living, that focuses on […]
A Toronto-based software developer is offering additional workplace flexibility to employees, leading to increased productivity and growth. Marco Osso, vice-president of employee success at Tulip.io Inc., says the company launched a shortened work week in August, allowing employees to work four or 4.5 days depending on their personal schedules. Read: Employers prioritizing mental health, permanent hybrid […]
Shopify Inc. was awarded for its digital-first employee health and wellness strategy at Benefits Canada‘s 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 14. The technology company won the award in the Coronavirus and Benefits category for an employer with more than 5,000 employees. Although the organization already had a few remote workers, it swiftly transitioned all of its employees […]
Employers in the U.S. expect health benefits costs to rise 4.7 per cent on average in 2022 compared to 2021, according to a new survey from Mercer. The survey, based on more than 1,500 employer responses, found fewer employers than usual (38 per cent) are using cost-savings measures — such as raising deductibles or co-pays […]