Ask your employees about their New Year's resolutions. If they mention health and fitness, they're not alone. Year after year, people vow to exercise more, to lose weight, and to eat better in the New Year. Just as regularly, however, most abandon their resolutions after a couple of months.

Retirement. It’s a big word that’s on a lot of people’s minds these days.

Simply put, Canadians want to know they’ll have enough money to retire comfortably. And as an employer, you’re in a great position to help guide them in the right direction.

But what if employees need guidance on a retirement benefits issue, and you don’t know the answer? Not to worry!

That’s exactly why we put together this article. Here, we answer the most common questions our clients ask us around retirement benefits for employees. Let’s take a look.

Chances are, your employees are counting the days until their next vacation. Who doesn't anticipate a break for rest, family time, or a change of scenery?

But, in reality, many end up forgoing their vacation benefits. Although most Canadians get two weeks of paid vacation per year, only one in three* actually takes it. Another 28% report taking less than half of their allotted vacation time.

"Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients."

This quote comes from lifelong mega entrepreneur Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, which controls over 400 companies. He knew the first ingredient of business success: happy, productive employees.

2019 is just around the corner. Now is the time to review your employee benefits program - which will set both your business and your employees up for success in the coming year.

Now and perhaps more than ever, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for employers to attract and retain qualified workers. A variety of factors come into play when desirable candidates weigh their options before ultimately deciding on their ideal landing-spot, and unsurprisingly, high on most wish-lists you’ll find:

• Competitive pay

• Attractive benefits package

• Security

Employers consult with professionals on matters relating to pay and benefit structures, but “security” can’t be addressed using a one-size fits all approach, it comes in many different forms and can be uniquely different from one employee to the next. In this blog, we’ll take a look at how employers can provide their employees with security by making use of EI’s Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) program.

Now that "Movember" is here, we want to shine a light on men's health.

Did you know, men are less likely to seek medical care than women? They put off annual exams and see a doc only for emergencies.

Meanwhile, 72% of men have two or more unhealthy habits, such as smoking, poor diet, excessive drinking, lack of sleep, and sedentary lifestyle (source).

The result? Chronic illness and premature death.

At work, men with health issues show decreased productivity and may end up going on long-term disability. No one wins if health is taken for granted.

Today we want to talk about why it pays to boost your male employees' health quotient.

Chances are, you hire people who fall into the “contractor” category. Since they're not actual employees, they probably don't receive your full benefits package. 

So what would happen if they got sick or injured? Would they have any financial protection?

Today, we want to discuss why you should offer benefits to contractors—and highlight the types of benefits to consider.

Our lives are busier than ever, and finding the time to take care of our health can sometimes feel impossible. But while technology may be part of the problem, it’s also part of the solution.

The healthcare industry is working hard to bring innovative technologies to clients and patients, making it easier for them to access the care they need. By empowering people to take charge of their own health, these platforms are transforming the way we think about wellness.

Let’s take a look at the latest technology in healthcare today.

From tense shoulders to slipped discs, work-related back pain is a major issue for employees and employers alike.

Not only are musculoskeletal issues the second leading cause of long-term disability claims, they can also affect workers’ mental health and increase distraction at the office (source). In severe cases, staff with back complaints may need to take extra time off to deal with their symptoms.

In this blog, we’ll look at what causes back pain and offer simple, actionable tips for how to prevent it.

Are you a Canadian-based employer with staff in the US? How can you best manage your benefits plan for this special group?

In this blog, we’ll discuss how to navigate employee benefits for US workers, so you can keep your entire team happy and protected—wherever they are.