We like it when an employer and their employees are happy with their selected benefit provider, but satisfaction is usually the outcome of many factors. Rates need to be priced fairly, claims should be paid properly and in a timely fashion, administration should be easy and run smoothly, mistakes (those rare times that they happen) need to be fixed quickly and problems should be resolved without hassle.

According to the latest Help Wanted Survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), there were 399,000 vacant jobs in Canada in the fourth quarter of 2017. British Columbia has the highest job vacancy rate at 3.9%, up from 3.6% three months earlier. 

If your organization is feeling the strain, you might consider bringing in: 

• inpatriates (an employee of a multinational company who is from a foreign country, but is transferred to your corporation's headquarters) or,
• temporary foreign workers.

But in doing this, it’s crucial to be aware of what’s involved when offering these workers employee benefits.

As globalization increases, more and more Canadian companies are sending workers around the world. But here’s the challenge:

Employee benefits in a global setting are increasingly complex. If you don’t fully understand these complexities, your business and workers may become vulnerable to serious health and financial issues.

First, your global benefits programs need to make sense for the location and culture your employees are in. Also, Canadian companies must prepare for the challenges associated with every country where their workers travel, work, and live. If not, you may end up facing lawsuits and criminal charges.

Chronic disease is on the rise all over the world, creating major challenges for both employees and employers. Today, these illnesses cause two thirds of Canada’s health care costs, and 59% of employees with benefits coverage are living with at least one chronic condition.

Did you know that eyeglasses can cost more than $600 a pair? Because of this, people often struggle when buying contacts or glasses.

As an employer, it’s essential to understand the value and importance of vision insurance. While most employees are satisfied with their overall benefits plan, many aren’t as happy when it comes to eye care.

If you have a benefits plan, you have most likely gone through a renewal in the past. Now that the next one is just around the corner, you have the chance to work with your advisor to decide on a plan that will benefit both your employees and you organization. For human resource professionals, this is an excellent opportunity to further the positive impact of employee wellness.

Asana, Skype, Hootsuite, Slack: workplaces are becoming increasingly digital, with new apps emerging on an almost daily basis. But these technologies can do more than improve project management and office communication. The right health insurance apps can also help your employees connect more strongly to your organization, to their benefits plan, and to each other.

It may come as a surprise, but dental health can have huge consequences for individuals and businesses alike.

Did you know that about 4.15 million working days are lost every year because of dental visits or dental sick-days? Although dental health is extremely important for quality of life, it isn’t covered under Canada’s universal health care.

How healthy is your workplace? An office environment might seem altogether safe and comfortable. But potential hazards can still be lurking. Not only might they threaten your employees’ well-being, but if employees are unhealthy, they are also unproductive.

In today’s tight labour market, finding and keeping employees is a challenge, but the demands of attracting and retaining executives for C-Suite positions is even greater.

And let’s face it, the key to your company’s prosperity largely lies with the quality of the senior leadership. So, what elements should be considered and included in a successful executive compensation plan?