Eliminating sick notes for Canadian employees would help remove the administrative burden for both employers and medical professionals, while also improving workplace trust, says Olivia Cicchini, human resources and employment law expert at Peninsula Canada. The Canadian Medical Association is calling for the elimination of sick notes for short-term minor illnesses across the country, which could […]
The union representing 1,750 employees at Extendicare’s long-term care facilities across Ontario has ratified multiple three-year collective agreements that include benefits gains. The agreements include increasing vision coverage from $350 to $400 every 24 months, as well as increasing parental leave to a maximum of 78 weeks from 52 weeks. In terms of sick leave, […]
An article on International Business Machines Corp.’s latest pension risk transfer was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. IBM transferring US$6 billion in pension liabilities via group annuity buyout 2. How employers can encourage employees to take guilt-free sick days […]
With flu season around the corner, it’s important for employers to communicate that it’s acceptable to take sick days and prioritize well-being so employees don’t feel guilty taking time off, says Jodi Kovitz, chief executive officer of the Human Resources Professional Association. “It really is on leaders to encourage people to take sick days because it’s […]
Representatives of family doctors in British Columbia say giving physicians paid sick days, vacation coverage, extended health and dental benefits and a pension plan is one way to help attract more doctors to work in the province. The B.C. College of Family Physicians and B.C. Family Doctors published a series of requests for whichever party […]
The Nova Scotia government has tabled a bill that would significantly increase the amount of unpaid time off for employees who develop a serious illness or are severely hurt on the job. Labour Minister Jill Balser told reporters if the bill becomes law, workers will get up to 27 unpaid weeks off without fear they’ll […]
The most prevalent minimum employee benefits that are offered by multinational companies are employee assistance programs and life insurance (73 per cent), maternity leave (70 per cent) and paternity leave (69 per cent), according to a new survey by Aon. The survey, which polled nearly 300 employers from across 31 countries, found these standard offerings […]
Nearly half (49 per cent) of executive leaders say financial stress often or very often prevents their frontline workers from doing their best work, according to a new survey by Dayforce Inc. The survey, which polled more than 6,900 workers, managers and executives from companies with frontline workers across the globe, found 62 per cent of […]
While employers recognize employee benefits are an important part of attracting and retaining talent, seven in 10 (70 per cent) say it’s impossible to offer all of the benefits that employees are currently demanding, according to a new survey by the Harris Poll on behalf of Express Services Inc. The survey, which polled more than […]
If absenteeism is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to employees’ mental health and well-being, presenteeism is the bulky underwater mass, said William Lindsay, senior disability management advisor at Desjardins Insurance, during Benefits Canada’s 2023 Mental Health Summit. While absenteeism — defined as an employee being repeatedly absent for more than half a day — is […]