This is part 2 of our series on Hidden Liabilities for employers. You can find part 1 here.

While part one discussed liabilities associated with day to day administration of Canadian benefit plans, part two outlines structural pitfall decisions related to plan structure. These decisions are often made when a plan is first established and may not have been reviewed or updated recently. Best practices suggest that the following items be considered annually.   

Congratulations! You’ve implemented an employee benefit plan to attract and retain staff. You’ve designated someone in your office as the plan administrator and you feel confident that the administration of that plan is easy, and you are good to go.

Or are you? Even in the most straightforward scenarios, there are hidden liabilities which can cost a firm money and its reputation.

This blog is written by our friends at Optimal Performance Clinic, a multidisciplinary clinic located in Downtown Vancouver.

You work hard to prevent workplace accidents but what happens when an employee gets injured away from the job? It makes good business sense to support an injured team member to return safely to work as quickly as possible.

This blog is written by our friends at Fringe Benefit Analysts, an employee benefits firm based in Layton, Utah.

Are you familiar with that weary feeling of a long commute?

You’ve been on the road since 6:30 a.m. You’ve already listened to two episodes of CANADALAND; the paper cup sitting in the centre console now outweighs the liquid inside—and you’re still 15 minutes from the office.

As an employer, you know that you need to offer a great benefits package to attract and retain great employees. But do you understand the difference between taxable and non-taxable benefits?

The rules around taxable benefits in Canada are constantly changing, and staying up-to-date is no easy task. If you’re not aware of the most recent guidelines, it can cost your company dearly.

In this article, we’ll take a look at what is and isn’t taxable, so that you can rest easy knowing your money is well-spent.

You know that you and your employees are all savvy shoppers but when it comes to using your benefit plans, this consumer mentality doesn’t always hold true. 

Do your employees know how much you value them?

If you want to retain an engaged, hardworking team, learning how to make employees feel valued is an absolute must. Not only do staff who feel appreciated work harder and take more ownership of their work, they are also more loyal and tend to stay with their company for longer.

With the arrival of warmer weather, the last thing we want to do is be stuck with a cold. While colds peak during the fall, spring ushers in a second peak season for common colds. Experts cite several factors at play for this second seasonal spike.

Bright skies, warm weather, blooming flowers. For many of us, spring is a great time of year. But for those who suffer from hay fever, it signals that some uncomfortable symptoms—a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes—are about to arrive.

Sleep is often underrated. But whether you realize it or not, Canada is experiencing a sleep epidemic.

In fact, we are the third most sleep deprived nation in the world, on par with the US (source).

And lack of sleep strongly correlates with low productivity. If your employees are sleep deprived, your business can take a hit—as much as $3,156 per employee annually (source).

While you can't revamp employees' home lives, you can lead them toward healthy habits. In this blog, we’ll discuss strategies to help your employees get enough z's—so they can show up to work bright-eyed and fully engaged.