While Ontario Power Generation has had a major medical absence program in place for years, it saw an opportunity for a review and update in 2016, leading to changes that solidified its win for best absence management program at Benefits Canada’s 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 11. Working with many stakeholders, including unions, human resources […]
Take the free money. This is my regular mantra for employees in employer-sponsored retirement plans. But many employees don’t enrol in company-sponsored plans or don’t take the maximum amount of free money available. When human resources professionals ask their employees why, their responses include: “I get a better return with my advisor, so I am contributing with her/him.” “The investment […]
Creating and supporting an environment of diversity and inclusion is top of mind for most employers today. With increasing globalization and a highly competitive marketplace, organizations need to respond to demographic changes in the communities where they do business. As well, research shows that having a diverse and inclusive workforce allows organizations to attract and retain […]
There was a lot of news to share from the pension, investment, benefits and human resources industries this month. Here are the 10 most popular online stories of the month: 1. Employer-paid benefits to be subject to new B.C. health tax 2. Ontario government to become second payer under OHIP+ changes 3. Great-West Life’s Jeff […]
Some 71 per cent of global employers have a defined wellness program for their employees, according to a new report by the Top Employers Institute. The survey, which queried 1,300 employers audited and certified by the institute, found North America is leading the way in wellness programs, with 80 per cent of employers offering them, up 34 percentage points […]
There were almost 4,000 opioid-related deaths in Canada in 2017, according to Health Canada statistics released in June. Meanwhile, in the United States, a new survey by the National Business Group on Health found 60 per cent of large employers had experienced at least one issue stemming from prescription opioid misuse or abuse in the workplace. Forty […]
Morneau Shepell Inc. is acquiring employee assistance program and wellness provider LifeWorks Corp. Ltd. for about $426 million. “This acquisition is aligned with Morneau Shepell’s global growth strategy as well as our focus on technology innovations to create added value for our clients and their employees,” said Stephen Liptrap, president and chief executive officer of Morneau Shepell, […]
Alongside its financial impact, extreme weather takes a toll on absenteeism, mental health and disability claims, according to a new study by the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo. The research, funded by Manulife Financial Corp. and Intact Financial Corp., looked at homeowners in Burlington, Ont., after a storm in August 2014 left […]
Employee health services company HumanaCare has acquired Toronto-based virtual health platform TranQool. In addition to delivering health care virtually, the acquisition will allow HumanaCare to expand its existing employee assistance programs, medical second opinion, disability support, caregiving and health-care navigation and chronic disease management services, according to its president, Jamie Marcellus. Read: 2018 Group Benefits Providers […]
Who wouldn’t want a coach to help with achieving health goals? According to the 2017 Sanofi Canada health-care survey, health coaching is a popular idea: 61 per cent of plan members expressed interest in coaching around personal health goals. But is health coaching a worthy investment for employers to include as a benefit for their […]