Employers are increasingly facing a tight labour market and need to compete for top talent with a stronger benefits offering. Using technology to compare offerings across insurance companies and other providers can ensure employers have a cost-competitive plan that speaks to employees’ needs, said Matt Lister, co-founder and chief executive officer at CloudAdvisors, during Benefits […]
After navigating the unpredictable markets of the past two decades, some defined benefit pension plan sponsors could be forgiven for wanting to seek out some certainty. But a new threat has emerged in the form of rapidly rising inflation and the possibility of rate increases after decades of persistent lows. The consumer price index increased […]
Lupus, a chronic but “invisible” autoimmune disease with no cure, is a life-altering diagnosis that impacts all areas of patients’ lives, including their work performance. But there’s plenty employers can do to support these employees and help them continue to thrive at work, said Leanne Mielczarek, executive director of Lupus Canada, during Benefits Canada’s 2022 […]
Chronic physical health conditions and anxiety and mood disorders are frequently co-morbid conditions, so it’s important for employers to understand the link and how to support staff in the workplace, said Deborah McLeod, clinical director at Carepath Inc., during Benefits Canada’s 2022 Chronic Disease at Work conference in February. People living with chronic physical health […]
Asset managers have responded to a growing demand from investors for socially responsible investing, with pledges to integrate environmental, social and governance factors into the way they invest. But investors are skeptical that companies are making as much progress as they say. More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of Canadian institutional investors believe companies are overstating […]
With sustainable investing gaining significant popularity, it’s critically important for defined contribution plan sponsors to understand how underlying investment managers integrate environmental, social and governance factors into their investment processes. “Let’s think about ESG not as a separate process and overlay or a yes or no question, but as a core reinforcing part of how […]
The Fraser Health Authority has always taken care of its employees when they go on disability leave, but the organization recently decided to change the trajectory of employees’ disability journey, introducing new services that can help them earlier in the process. One cause of disability the health authority aimed to address was substance use disorder, […]
Substance use disorder is the largest unmanaged disease in modern health care, but few options exist that allow those affected to continue to work while being treated and that address plan members whose substance use issues aren’t visible in the workplace. “The overwhelming majority of substance use cases is invisible to the eye,” said Elliot […]
For many Canadians, the coronavirus pandemic profoundly changed their daily commute: people used to catching a subway or driving or biking to work now commute just mere steps from their bedroom to their home office, couch or kitchen table. According to Statistics Canada, the pandemic prompted a five-fold increase in the number of Canadians teleworking […]
Uncontrolled diabetes can have a major impact on the workplace, driving absenteeism and impaired presenteeism rates, as well as short- and long-term disability, said Sarah Blunden, clinical account manager at Dexcom Canada, during Benefits Canada’s 2021 Tech Insights conference in January. The disease, which occurs when someone’s blood sugar levels are too high, can cause […]