While employers of frontline workers have beefed up their policies to physically protect workers from the spread of the coronavirus, many aren’t providing additional supports or mental-health resources, according to a new survey by ADP Canada Co. The survey, which polled more than 750 working Canadians, found that across all industries, 45 per cent of employers are offering extra mental-health […]
Vancouver City Savings Credit Union has put its frontline staff on a rotation system and introduced a virtual health-care app to support them during the coronavirus pandemic. When the pandemic hit British Columbia, Vancity began to see a steep climb in unexplained absences, reaching as high as 140 a day. “Like many people across the […]
In the midst of the most significant socio-economic and health crisis since WWII — and maybe even longer — virtually every aspect of modern society has been affected in some way, and employee benefits programs are no exception. Before the coronavirus pandemic was in full swing in Canada, employers were focused on ensuring employees diagnosed with the […]
With the increase in job losses, illnesses, uncertainty and self-isolation, how is the coronavirus survey affecting Canadians’ emotional and psychological well-being? Half of Canadians reported a worsening of their mental health with 10 per cent saying it has worsened a lot, according to a new survey by the Angus Reid Institute. When asked to describe […]
BMO Financial Group is highlighting a number of its health supports for employees during the coronavirus pandemic. The bank is hosting conference calls with physicians and mental-health professionals, which are recorded so employees can listen to them later on-demand. So far, 15,000 employees have participated, says Karen Collins, the bank’s chief talent officer. “It’s really […]
More than a third (35 per cent) of Canadians said they expect to lose their job or the main source of self-employment income in the next four weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey by Statistics Canada. The survey, which polled more than 4,600 Canadians in all 10 provinces in late March and early April, found […]
Morneau Shepell Ltd. and fitness app Lift are partnering to add artificial intelligence-based fitness programs and live coaches to Morneau Shepell’s LifeWorks well-being platform. Through the platform, plan members will be able to access virtual fitness programs built for their personal goals using AI. They will also be able to receive live virtual coaching and can join live […]
About 4.7 million Canadians who don’t usually work from home did so during the week of March 22, according to a new survey by Statistics Canada. When also including those who usually work from home, its March labour force survey, which polled 4,600 people in 10 provinces, found 39 per cent of workers (or 6.8 […]
Before the coronavirus pandemic, 20 per cent of BMO Financial Group’s 45,000 employees were working from home on a fairly regular basis. Since March, that’s jumped to 80 per cent. “We have, of course, people who are in branches who need to go in and serve customers face to face, but we have schooled up our work […]
Mental-health issues continue to be a driver of employee absence and disability year after year, so it’s important for employers to understand and cover a wider range of mental-health professionals on their benefits plans. Back in 2016, Scotiabank’s mental-health coverage was limited to psychologists. However, as different designations gained acceptance in the Canadian health-care space, […]