In March 2020, Bill Gosling Outsourcing’s benefits plan was facing unsustainable costs, as well as a deficit due to incoming premium increases. The coronavirus pandemic, which was declared at the same time, presented an opportunity for the organization to make significant changes. “During the pandemic, people were housebound, so they weren’t going to the dentist […]
While the provision of travel insurance has long been a staple in many group benefits plans, it was thrust into the spotlight during the coronavirus pandemic. The benefit helps cover unexpected costs that employees may incur while travelling outside of the country, including emergency travel assistance services and emergency medical costs. In addition, some policies […]
Employees in most sectors are experiencing an exponential increase in the amount of time they spend in front of screens during work hours, so updates to vision benefits are long overdue. “Current vision coverage isn’t sufficient and it would be great to see some changes,” says Dr. Harry Bohnsack, an optometrist based in Fredericton, N.B. […]
The OPSEU Pension Trust is supporting employees’ and plan members’ financial literacy with its defined benefit pension education program and extensive member communications. “We run a program called People for Pensions, an education program focused on articulating the value of defined benefit pensions and not just the benefit they provide to people who have them, […]
Walmart Canada is increasing its mental-health benefits coverage for employees and expanding access to virtual health care. Effective Feb. 1, 2023, the company will provide $3,500 in annual mental-health coverage per employee, up from $1,000. “We wanted to make a statement with our [employees] in terms of support for their mental health and $1,000 just […]
The union representing more than 60 employees at Right Time Call Centre in St. Catharines, Ont. has ratified a three-year collective agreement that includes bereavement leave enhancements. The agreement will allow employees to use their three paid days of bereavement leave for the death of a stepfather, stepmother or foster parent, as well as the parent […]
Employers that aren’t encouraging LGBTQ2S+ inclusivity stand to lose significant amounts of money due to turnover, lower employee engagement and decreased productivity, says Michael Bach, founder and chief executive officer of Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion Consulting Inc. “The employers making real progress are the ones that recognize the benefit of action and the […]
The union representing employees at automobile manufacturing company Stellantis’ assembly plants in Windsor, Ont. and Brampton, Ont. has ratified a three-year collective agreement that includes pension and retiree benefits improvements. The agreement will add $1 per hour to the current company pension contribution. Employees earning the current maximum wage rate will see the pension contribution converted […]
Equitable Bank’s comprehensive financial literacy seminars led to a win in the Financial wellness category at Benefits Canada’s 2022 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 18. During the coronavirus pandemic, the bank had to pivot quickly to continue providing quality financial wellness education to employees, says Jasmine Kong, the organization’s human resources generalist. Equitable Bank partnered with some of […]
KPMG in Canada is offering an Indigenous wellness benefit as part of its Truth and Reconciliation action plan. The wellness benefit, which will be available in December, provides employees with access to an annual allowance that will reimburse expenses related to Indigenous healers and elders, traditional medicine and Indigenous ceremony supplies. “We felt strongly that […]