While many Canadian organizations continue to search for solutions to rising health-care costs, most are falling short. That’s why they must investigate any opportunity to find substantial savings and then take action. One health-related cost that hasn’t gained much attention is absenteeism. As issue often linked to mental-health issues, it’s costing Canadian organizations billions of dollars in payroll costs, […]
CGI Group Inc. has rolled out a new year’s wellness program that tackles employees’ health goals from an initial consultation through to the development of a personalized action plan. The global information technology company, which has Canadian offices in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia, is offering the New Year, New Me program to up […]
Following up on the introduction of several wellness activities for employees in 2017, National Leasing Group Inc. is rolling out a weekly workplace knitting group. “It’s going to be after work, on Wednesday, for a couple of hours,” says Samantha Squire, public relations co-ordinator at National Leasing. “I know how to knit, so I’m going to lead it and […]
Building on a wellness program that covers employees’ overall well-being, Allstate Insurance Co. of Canada is introducing a trio of programs in January. “January can be a stressful and a tough month for many,” says Adrianne Sullivan-Campeau, the organization’s vice-president of human resources. “So you’re coming down from the holiday high, you have large bills coming in from your holiday purchases, […]
How employees react to stress has a bigger impact on total health than the condition itself, according to a new report from Morneau Shepell Ltd. “Stress itself is not something that is good or bad — it is merely a demand on physical or mental energy,” said Bill Howatt, chief research and development officer for workplace […]
Commercial landlord Cadillac Fairview Corp. Ltd. is hoping to list the spirits of employees in Toronto with pop-up puppy parks in several of its downtown Toronto properties. The middle Monday in January is known as the most dreary day of the year due to the the gloomy weather, post-holiday blahs and pile of unfulfilled New Year’s resolutions. […]
Almost 60 per cent of Canadian human resources managers say the health and wellness offerings at their organizations have declined over the last five years, according to a new survey by staffing firm OfficeTeam. The survey, which polled more than 300 human resources managers and more than 1,000 Canadian workers over the age of 18, also asked respondents […]
While employers will continue to address areas such as mental-health awareness training and chronic disease management in 2018, the following five trends will also be on the horizon for Canadian workplaces. 1. Mindfulness High stress levels in the workplace are leading to decreased focus and efficiency among employees. As a result, low workplace morale erodes productivity, and […]
Rates of workplace absenteeism reached peak levels in 2016 compared to the last five years in both the public and private sectors, according to Statistics Canada. The public sector lost 13.5 days per employee on average, up from 12.5 in 2012. The private sector had been trending down from 8.3 days in 2012 but returned […]
Just one-third (32 per cent) of Canadian employers have a formalized wellness program, according to a new survey by the Conference Board of Canada. While workplace wellness initiatives have become more prevalent over the last decade, nearly half (48 per cent) of employers that responded to the survey said they take an informal approach. A further 20 […]