In the last decade, the landscape of obesity has completely changed how the disease is understood, affecting the way it can be treated, said Dr. Shahebina Walji, medical director at the Calgary Weight Management Centre. “There are a whole host of factors [contributing to obesity],” she said, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2019 Calgary Benefits Summit at […]
Fewer than half of U.S. employees have a positive state of well-being, according to a new survey by Alight Solutions. The survey, which polled 2,301 people, also found Americans’ perceptions of their well-being status is dropping. “Personal perceptions of mental and emotional well-being have declined most — down six points,” noted the report. It found millennials rated the state […]
Workplace wellness programs don’t provide employees with significant measurable outcomes, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study, which looked at 33,000 employees at 160 BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. worksites for a year and a half, found about 4,000 staff participated in the company’s wellness program. It comprised eight […]
The National Football League and the NFL Players Association are putting more resources in place for players’ pain management and behavioural health through new union agreements. The two parties will be forming a joint pain management committee, with medical experts appointed by both the league and the union, according to a press release. The committee will […]
PCL Construction Ltd. is encouraging its employees to talk about their mental-health journeys and take breaks when they need it during the month of May. Employees can share their stories on the company’s WellPCL internal blog, which is promoted and shared by the company’s human resources department. “They range from, ‘I’m a superintendent on a […]
The contents of employee assistance programs are growing and reflecting a wider range of services. At the same time, attitudes to pricing are also changing. Trader Corp., a Toronto-based digital marketing company serving the automotive industry, expects more from its EAP provider and is willing to pay for it. “Our workforce is increasingly diverse with […]
PCL Construction Ltd.’s vice-president of human resources and professional development discusses the many dimensions of wellness, virtual health care and hiking in the Rockies. Q. What are the top challenges you face in your role? A. The top challenge right now is getting employees aware and involved with their [benefits] plan. We’re on a flex […]
Manulife is launching a preventative opioid management program, extending its Vitality program to group benefits plans and partnering with digital health company Akira Health. The opioid management program features a two-step system. The first ensures plan members who start opioid treatment do so with a short-term supply, while the second encourages using short-acting opioids at the outset. […]
As newer generations enter the workforce, innovative benefits plan design is important to connect plan members with the resources that fulfill the needs of an increasingly diverse workforce. During a panel at Benefits Canada’s 2019 Benefits and Pension Summit in Toronto on April 17, Wade Domries, vice-president of total rewards at Telus Corp., discussed how the company […]
PCL Construction is marking Earth Day with a challenge that encourages employees to be more mindful of the environment. Its employees across the country are working their way through a list of 50 small but meaningful activities — from changing how they use paper to planting trees to recycling batteries — to enter into a draw […]