Blake Wolfe

2023 Healthy Outcomes Conference: Panel: Taking a proactive approach to absence and disability management

Long before the coronavirus pandemic upended the workplace and impacted absence and disability management, employers have been rethinking these programs by taking a proactive approach. Lululemon Athletica Inc.’s accommodations program supports employee financial well-being and building employer trust by allowing employees to continue working as much as possible, said Jared Fu (pictured right), the apparel […]

  • November 20, 2023 November 30, 2023
  • 07:53

Hydro Ottawa providing financial resources on rising cost of living, retirement

Hydro Ottawa Ltd. is marking Financial Literacy Month by promoting tools and resources for employees grappling with the rising cost of living, says Donna Burnett Vachon, the company’s director of change and organization development. “We see [the impact of the rising cost of living] every day from people who have increasing rental costs to even just […]

  • November 17, 2023 November 16, 2023
  • 09:00

Amazon Canada supporting Edmonton-based deaf workers through employee education, training

Amazon Canada is supporting deaf employees at its Edmonton fulfilment centre through enhanced accessibility measures and manager training. The online retailer’s site-specific initiatives include classes in American Sign Language, the addition of supplementary ASL videos on its intranet and designated safety vests that communicate deaf employees’ status to other workers. Amazon is also increasing its […]

  • November 16, 2023 November 15, 2023
  • 09:00

Flight Centre wins award for mental-health training, efforts to reduce stigma

Flight Centre Travel Group’s efforts to support employee mental health amid the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a win at Benefits Canada’s 2023 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 20. The travel company won in the Mental-health program category for companies with fewer than 1,000 employees for its Healthwise program, which includes a […]

  • November 1, 2023 October 31, 2023
  • 09:00

Flight Centre lands win for monthly wellness challenges, health programs for hybrid, remote employees

Flight Centre Travel Group’s holistic approach to employee wellness resulted in a win at Benefits Canada’s 2023 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 20. The company won in the Health/wellness program category for employers with fewer than 1,000 employees for its Healthwise program. This year, Flight Centre focused on several key wellness areas, including relationships and connections, […]

  • October 26, 2023 October 24, 2023
  • 09:00

CAA Club Group’s enhanced health benefits, wellness app leads to award win

CAA Club Group’s commitment to supporting employee health and wellness led to a win in the Health/wellness program category for employers with more than 1,000 employees at Benefits Canada’s 2023 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 20. “We were up against some strong competitors and we’re excited that the work we do in the wellness space […]

  • October 25, 2023 October 24, 2023
  • 09:00

How Redbrick’s flexible holiday policy is supporting employee well-being, workplace DEI goals

While Canadian culture has long been described as a mosaic, employers’ holiday policies are more likely to tie statutory holidays to Christian celebrations than reflect the country’s true multicultural identity. In 2022, to better support an increasingly diverse workforce in both Canada and the U.S., Victoria-based software company Redbrick formalized its policy of allowing employees […]

  • October 13, 2023 October 12, 2023
  • 08:57

How are institutional investors considering alternative credit amid rising interest rates?

While the University of British Columbia’s staff pension plan already boasts a sizable investment in alternative credit, it still has room for more. “Overall, we have a favourable outlook for alternative credit and intend to continue growing our exposure in 2023,” says Josh Kruse, associate director at UBC Investment Management. “Rising policy interest rates and […]

  • October 13, 2023 October 12, 2023
  • 08:55

Survey finds majority of employers say attraction, retention increasingly impacting total rewards decisions

Amid a challenging labour market, Canadian employers say attraction (64 per cent) and retention (57 per cent) are the top challenges impacting total rewards decisions, according to a new survey by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. The survey, which polled more than 500 employers, found just a third (29 per cent) were concerned about benefits […]

  • October 5, 2023 October 4, 2023
  • 09:00

Walmart Canada supporting employee enrichment, well-being by covering education costs

Walmart Canada is supporting employees’ ongoing education by covering the cost of tuition, books and course fees for programs at some of Canada’s top universities. The Live Better U education program provides employees with upskilling opportunities, including degrees and licensing for pharmacy technicians and opticians, as well as certificates in areas such as project management, […]

  • October 3, 2023 October 2, 2023
  • 09:00