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 […]
It’s said that laughter is the best medicine. At consultancy Accompass Inc., a good belly laugh, among other activities, is earning employees extra points they can translate into dollars for their wellness accounts. “We do focus on wellness with our clients, and we really wanted to ramp up what we do in-house,” says Judy Buckley, vice-president of […]
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is taking a more holistic approach to workplace wellness by putting financial fitness on the same pedestal as physical well-being and mental health. “Traditionally, workplaces have focused on physical wellness and dedicated a lot of resources to it at the expense of overlooking the mental and financial aspects of […]
While Allstate Insurance Co. of Canada provides several financial education and information sessions to employees throughout the year, it’s focusing on the importance of financial literacy this November to align its offerings with Canada’s Financial Literacy Month. “Financial wellness is actually a key component of our healthy workplace strategy at Allstate,” says Adrianne Sullivan-Campeau, the organization’s vice-president of human resources. Read: Just […]
Would a furry friend sitting under a colleague’s desk ease stress or cause distraction? That’s just one of many questions employers have to consider when it comes to deciding whether to welcome pets to the workplace. Issues can range from the minor, like dogs knocking over coffee cups, to the serious, such as co-workers suffering from severe […]
The debate over standup desks has been raging since a recent study found negative health impacts for employees who stand all day. But what about the other health and productivity benefits of being in a more active position at work? One the one hand, a study by the Texas A&M Health Science Center showed increased use […]
Hey Dan, wanna walk down to the boardwalk again?” It’s a muggy June night in New Liskeard, Ont., where my boyfriend is working for the summer, and we’re on a final stroll before my overnight bus ride back to Toronto. I still haven’t packed or eaten dinner but I’m desperate to keep walking. According to […]