Among the findings of the 2017 Sanofi Canada health-care survey, published last week, was the surprising decline in interest by employers in offering wellness programs to their staff. Fewer than a third (31 per cent) of employers said they plan to invest more in health education or wellness programs in the next year — down […]
Employer appetite for investing in wellness appears to be waning, delegates heard at the Toronto launch of the 2017 Sanofi Canada health-care survey. Representatives from the benefits industry, who also served on the survey’s advisory board, were surprised and concerned by these findings as they shared insights from the research at the event on Tuesday […]
Employees who cycle to work are less likely to die prematurely than their colleagues who don’t have an active commute, says a recent study published in the BMJ, a British medical journal. “The findings, if causal, suggest population health may be improved by policies that increase active commuting, particularly cycling, such as the creation of […]
While the majority of employees continue to be satisfied with their health benefits plan, the extent to which they find it meets their needs has declined over the years, according to the 2017 Sanofi Canada health-care survey. The latest survey, released today, found 53 per cent of plan members reported their health benefits plan meets […]
The percentage of employees who agree their organization’s corporate culture encourages health and wellness has dropped in the past five years to 53 per in 2017 from 62 per cent in 2012, according to the 2017 Sanofi Canada health-care survey. Among employers, 64 per cent feel their corporate culture encourages wellness, although that’s still a […]
Canadians face a significant gap in access to coverage for obesity-related treatments, a new report suggests. In a survey of Canadians with private drug insurance, only 8.8 per cent reported having access to anti-obesity medications, according to a new report from the Canadian Obesity Network. It also found public and private plans don’t tend to cover the cost of […]
When employees are young and often working remotely, and when the wellness budget is non-existent, human resources managers have to be creative to ensure employees get a healthy balance at work. The vehicle history company Carproof, for example, began its wellness program in 2012 with a weight-loss contest, said Heather Coy-Robinson, the company’s human resources […]
Last Friday, Benefits Canada profiled an employer that had given each employee a Fitbit to promote exercise and wellness as part of its well-being program. The organization also plans walking challenges and has organized daily walking groups during lunch. Read: Employer encourages workplace walking with Fitbits for all staff The free Fitbit concept isn’t new: […]
Just 5.7 per cent of Canadians walked to work in 2011, down from 6.3 per cent in 2006, according to Statistics Canada. But even if employees live too far to commute by foot, employers can still create a walking-friendly culture. And today – Walk to Work Day – is a good time to start. Last […]
Fewer Canadians report being financially unwell than last year, according to Manulife’s annual financial wellness index. According to the survey, 40 cent of Canadians are financially unwell, which is down from 45 per cent last year. About a quarter (26 per cent) of respondents said they’re financially OK and a third (34 per cent) said they’re doing well financially. The top […]