As an employer, you are probably aware that employees are experiencing higher and higher levels of stress. Unfortunately, this is affecting employees’ ability to be present and productive in the workplace.  

And what is one of the main causes of stress? Money woes.

Over the last several years, more and more studies have drawn the connection between employees’ financial stress and reduced productivity in the workplace. Employers know it’s happening but many are unsure of the causes. Even fewer have a plan to tackle the problem.  

While financial stress may be a result of various sources, from increasing costs of housing to saving for retirement, the number one cause is “Debt”.

"I'm feeling down."

"I feel bummed out"

"I'm depressed."

It can be pretty common to hear these kinds of statements. But clinical depression is not simple unhappiness. It's a complex mood disorder—and it's important to know the difference.

Continue reading to learn how to help employees who struggle with depression and mental health in the workplace.

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.