Colliers International Group Inc.’s interventional and individualized approach to employee absences led to a win for best Absence Management program at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 18. “This is such an incredible and emotional achievement,” says Sonia-Sophia Vallie, a benefits, leaves and accommodation specialist at Colliers. “It’s very important to be here and […]
People leaders and managers have an important role to play in the well-being of their team members, said Carmen Bellows, registered psychologist and director of mental health solutions at Sun Life Financial Inc., during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health Summit in June. “[They can] recognize when mental health might be impacting someone, […]
A decline in the number of long-term disability claims over the past three years may be the result of some employees prioritizing their financial health over physical and mental wellness, said William Lindsay, senior disability management advisor for Desjardins Insurance’s disability management and prevention team, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health Summit in June. The […]
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 […]
Nearly half of Canadian women employees say they’re dissatisfied with their organizations’ support during maternity leave, according to a survey by Maturn. The survey, which polled more than 1,000 women, found two-fifths (39 per cent) didn’t receive a top up. Among the 59 per cent who said they received some form of paid leave, the benefits […]
Nearly a third (30 per cent) of working parents with at least one child aged five or younger worked exclusively from home or had a hybrid working arrangement in November, including 33 per cent of mothers and 27 per cent of fathers, according to a new survey by Statistics Canada. It found just a quarter (24 per cent) […]
In the face of soaring mental health-related disability leaves and broader challenges with access to mental-health care, integrated disability management programs that include early intervention, accommodations and return-to-work supports can help shorten leave durations. “Having an effective disability management program not only prevents and mitigates the impact of disability leaves on an organization, but it […]
As employers increasingly embrace diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, strong mental-health support can be a key pillar in those efforts, said Joby McKenzie, managing director for Canada at Teladoc Health, during Benefits Canada‘s 2023 Healthy Outcomes Conference in October. Highlighting statistics showing the mental-health disparities across diverse groups, she noted a third of Indigenous people […]
Long before the coronavirus pandemic upended the workplace and impacted absence and disability management, employers have been rethinking these programs by taking a proactive approach. Lululemon Athletica Inc.’s accommodations program supports employee financial well-being and building employer trust by allowing employees to continue working as much as possible, said Jared Fu (pictured right), the apparel […]
By March 2021, nearly half a million Canadian women who lost their jobs during the pandemic still hadn’t returned to work by the beginning of that year, according to data from the Royal Bank of Canada. It also found more than 200,000 women had slipped into the ranks of the long-term unemployed, a threefold increase […]