The Federal Pay Equity Act, which took effect on Aug. 31, 2021, requires all federally regulated employers with 10 or more employees to prepare and post a pay equity plan by Sept. 3, 2024. In addition, it requires all unionized employers or those with 100 or more workers to establish a pay equity plan — […]
Employee resource groups have been a part of many organizations for several years, are usually created and operated by employees and evolve and grow over time. But at Kraft Heinz Canada, six fully-formed ERGs arrived at once. “When our Canadian and U.S. businesses merged last year, the company thought one of the best ways to […]
The coronavirus pandemic ushered in a new world of work when organizations in most sectors were forced to find ways to operate virtually. Three years later, many employees — especially younger generations — want these flexible working options to stay. “Like many other firms, our employee demographic is mostly made up of millennials and [generation] […]
Independent governance has been one of the key factors in the success of Canadian public pension plans, according to a new report commissioned by the World Bank. “Strong, independent governance is perhaps the most important element of the Canadian model,” the report, released on Wednesday, stated. “Canadian pension organizations are governed to run as high-performing, arm’s-length entities […]
To combat the rise in chronic disease rates and the subsequent impact on the health-care system and benefits costs, there’s been a shift in thinking by employers, health professionals and benefits providers towards prevention rather than just treatment. “There is a sense of urgency for preventative measures,” said Derek Weir, manager of group benefits solutions at […]
As employees continue to seek new ways of accessing and using their benefits plans, a new study is aiming to further the development of one of the latest options, internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy. This month, the University of Regina partnered with the Co-operators Group Ltd. to launch a year-long study on the benefits and challenges […]
At Benefits Canada’s 2017 Healthy Outcomes conference in June, insurers, providers and plan sponsors discussed how to promote healthy behaviours and reduce chronic disease while also containing costs. Read on for coverage of the 2017 Health Outcomes conference: Prediabetes among biggest concerns for employee health Low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy touted as alternative to address […]
With four out of five Canadians having at least one modifiable risk for a chronic disease, organizations need to place the same importance and resources on improving employee health as they do on ensuring safety, a speaker told Benefits Canada’s Healthy Outcomes conference in June. “Over the past 100 years, vaccines, clean running water and […]
Should antidepressants be the first course of treatment for mild to moderate depression? Not necessarily, said Peter Gove, innovation leader for health management at Green Shield Canada, during the 2017 Healthy Outcomes conference in June. “Everyone experiences sadness from time to time. It’s normal,” he said. “Sadness is often a temporary reaction to difficult life […]
With mental-health issues reaching crisis levels in Canadian workplaces, employers have options to address the situation as a driver of claims and absences, participants at Benefits Canada’s Healthy Outcomes conference heard. “There is a mental-health crisis in our workplaces,” said Judith Plotkin, vice-president of growth and strategy at the ReedGroup. “This week alone, 500,000 Canadians […]