Canadians may have life insurance, pensions, group retirement services, and other savings to help protect our loved ones in the event that something happens to us. But do you know who is listed as your current beneficiary on these policies? Many of us set the beneficiary designations when we initially enroll or sign up for retirement savings plans (RSP), group retirement services, and other programs, and then we tend to forget about them. We all encounter many changes throughout our lives and we need to be aware that these changes should be reflected in who we want as beneficiaries in the event something dire should happen. It is...

As we ease into the holidays and things begin to slow down a bit, you may recognize that you’re not quite feeling yourself. Maybe you have a persistence headache, sore muscles, or just slowed reflexes. Or it could be that you are more irritable than usual, or les productive. Is it just the time of year, or could it be that fatigue has you feeling not so festive? Fatigue is a feeling of constant tiredness or weakness and can be physical, mental or a combination of both. This could be resulting from insufficient sleep, prolonged mental or physical work, or extended periods of stress or anxiety. Fatigue can...

Its common these days to intermingle our work and personal lives, especially with COVID-19 shifting many of our office cubicles right into our own homes. Where there used to be a solid line of clocking out of one space and commuting back to the other now lies a blurred boundary that we must navigate as best as we can. Balance can seem impossible to achieve when our professional and personal lives are mixing so regularly, but its important to maintain some sense of harmony to ensure we’re taking care of our mental wellness. One of the biggest indicators that our work-life balance is out of sync is burnout....

Ergonomically setting up a workstation should maximize a worker’s efficiency and safety, while reflecting the specific needs of each individual. No two people have the same body type, and just as clothing comes in different sizes to fit you best, you need to adjust your workstation so it best fits you. Performing repetitive tasks in an unnatural position can cause fatigue, back pain and repetitive stress injuries. However, a properly set up workstation can increase efficiency, productivity, and comfort. The most important item of your workstation is your chair. In order to ensure a comfortable ergonomic fit, stand in front of your chair and adjust the height so...

The World Health Organization (WHO) has now characterized the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic. This is not just a public health crisis but a serious situation that will touch every sector, business, and organization on both employment and financial levels. Following the recommendations of both the Federal and Provincial Governments, we have transitioned our employees to their remote work locations. PEO Canada has put policies in place to minimize interruptions to our business while we operate in our building, keeping the health and well-being of our staff a top priority. The continued commitment to our shared business continuity with minimal disruptions remains our ultimate goal.  To achieve...

April 28th is recognized as the Day of Mourning and was established in 1984 by the Canadian Labour Congress. It is a day to remember those who have been killed or injured as a result of a work-related incident or occupational disease. It also serves as a reminder for workplaces to continue to support healthy and safe work practices throughout the year. This day is not only recognized across Canada, but in over 100 countries worldwide. Thousands of workers have suffered an illness, been injured, or even killed as a result of a work-related event. Due to these tragedies, many families and friends have been severely affected. This...

Low morale can be a concern because it means that your workforce may not just be unhappy, but it also means employees are unlikely to be performing to their best capability. Some indications of low morale may include; low productivity, high turnover, and increased inter-personal conflicts. These are factors that could negatively affect highly skilled and engaged employees, which can be detrimental to the overall bottom-line of the organization. Even the most mundane of jobs can be appealing to people, if the systems and environment are set up to be inspiring. The highest levels of profitability and productivity come when there is high morale in the workplace.  High...

This time of year, we are receiving notices from our dentist, optometrists, and other healthcare providers reminding us that our benefits plan will renew in January.  They advise us that since we are paying for our benefits, we should maximize our usage to ensure nothing is left over as the funds will not carry over into the New Year.  They say “use it or lose it”; however, there are a few things you should be aware of with this way of thinking. If you pay a premium towards your benefits plan it makes sense that you would want to get your money’s worth out of your benefits.  You...

EFAP (Employee and Family Assistance Program) or EAP (Employee Assistance Program) are generally provided in conjunction with your employee benefits package.  They are confidential services that you or your family members are able to connect with at any time to discuss a wide variety of personal, family, or work related issues that you may be struggling with. There are many different topics that these programs can assist with; a few include: Work/Life Balance and other workplace challenges Weight Management and Nutrition Addiction Issues Financial Guidance Relationship Issues and Parenting   Most EFAP providers no longer require you to place a phone call to start receiving support.  Many have...

With the Cannabis Act coming into force on October 17th, 2018, many insurers are in the process of determining how to best fit medical marijuana into current plan offerings.  To be eligible for reimbursement under a group benefits plan, a drug must have a Drug Identification Number (DIN). Currently, marijuana is not an approved drug in Canada and does not have a DIN, so this poses a challenge to insurers. While it isn’t currently considered an eligible expense under the extended healthcare plan, it is an acceptable expense for a healthcare spending account (HSA), as the guidelines for HSA expenses are provided by the Canada Revenue Agency. Your...