When it comes to wellness, Canadian companies are getting it—in part. Most benefits plan sponsors understand the importance of investing in ways to keep their employees healthy. Not only do wellness initiatives make a difference in the lives of the people who represent an organization’s most valuable asset, but they also offer benefits to the […]
According to a 2010 Conference Board of Canada survey, 64% of respondents indicated that their benefits programs are focused on health promotions and disease management. However, only 26% reported that their organizations had fully developed a comprehensive wellness strategy. “Health as a strategic business issue is something that businesses can no longer afford to ignore,” […]
A recent Canadian study finds $33 billion per year is lost in the workplace from employees suffering from emotional disorders. Dr. Robert Wilson, presenter at The Canadian Health and Wellness Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, hosted by the International Federation of Employee Benefits Plans, got the room’s attention when he revealed this astounding number during […]
According to the Sun Life Canadian Health Index, almost 45% of Canadians don’t put their health at the top of their priority list—for some, it’s not on the list at all. The study categorized respondents into the following categories: overconfident (23%), overextended (22%), health achievers (22%), resilient (18%) and inhibited (16%). Those in the overconfident […]
One in five Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, according to a 2002 Health Canada report. In any year, 12% of Canadians ages 15 to 64 suffer from a mental disorder or substance dependence, as stated in a 2004 article in Healthcare Papers. Mental illness accounts for more than 15% of the burden […]
In 1979, not many people would have shared Dr. Robert Wilson’s vision of creating an employer-sponsored psychological health benefit for workers with mental health issues. As Wilson says today, the common view at the time was that employers had no right to interfere in the personal affairs of their employees. But his experience setting up […]
As the new editorial lead for this publication, I want to thank you for being advocates of workplace health. It’s an important subject that doesn’t always get the time or resources it deserves. That said, many more companies are finally making the link between employee health and organizational health, which can only help how we […]
How does a company judge its own success? If Razor Suleman had his way, the first question any employer would ask is, How happy are the employees? As CEO and founder of I Love Rewards, a company that’s won numerous accolades for successfully engaging its workforce, Suleman can’t stress enough the importance of happy employees. […]
Employees who have remained on the payroll after the most recent economic downturn may be feeling the stress of decreased resources and increased burdens. Some may still even carry “survivor guilt.” Emotional strain can also rise through factors such as unrealistic expectations, workplace politics or ill-defined goals. No matter what is causing the stress, employers […]
Wellness and fitness have always been an integral component of the culture at sanofi pasteur, a company with roots in Canada dating back nearly 100 years. At one time, the organization’s employee wellness programs meant company bowling leagues and baseball teams. Now they mean offering employees everything from a fully equipped on-site gym and instructor-led […]