MP Benefits Perspective

A benefit tool by many names. First things first, there is often confusion between what is insurance and what is not. Insurance is when the “risk” of claim—life insurance, disability, pharmacy, health care—is under contract with an insurance provider. Financial...

Let’s agree…to Agree

Right off the bat you are going to want to disagree, but for a moment, as we navigate the conversation, let’s talk about employee group benefits and take money off the table of discussion. I promise, I will put it back on the table, but just for now, let’s indulge the...

Please….encourage staff members to complete the questionnaire

Studies suggest one-in-six Canadians will suffer a disability that lasts three months or more before the age of 60. More than 53,000 Canadians are approved for Long Term Disability benefits annually. Chronic medical conditions, musculoskeletal, connective tissue,...

Benefits

The Alignment of benefits to productivity.

AS WE KNOW, benefits are a significant component of an employee’s compensation package, focusing on the usage value—the “benefits”—rather than premium, adding to the culture of any organization. However, have you considered how an employee group benefits plan ADDs to...

When Reporting a Change Matters.

Taking a chance may cost you more than premiums. It’s a problem of communication. Too many times employees fail to disclose relevant information relating to their employee benefit coverage, sometimes with the misconception of saving premium, or considering the...

Do we really understand the value of NON-TAXABLE?

Why should anyone care? Nothing seems to get a glazed look faster than a discussion on tax. Sure, if we want to complain about paying tax, or looking at the GST, we’ve plenty to say, but try simply to have a discussion on tax planning and see what happens. Feeling...

Compensation

Waiting Periods

If there is one on-going, rampant issue which plagues employers, employees, insurance underwriters and benefit broker/consultants alike, it would be employee “waiting periods” for coverage. In the contract for coverage with an insured underwriter, the question is...

Refusal of Coverage

To continue with the theme of employer risk of becoming the insurer, let’s consider all the times employees want to waive off the life and disability portion of the plan. A common and misunderstood administration issue is what can and cannot be waived as it applies to...

The Unique Differential

Recently business discussions have delved into the deeper “why”. Why do we do what we do? Start with the why, rather than the what and how. Makes sense really, we’re in business for a reason…why are we motivated to do what we do… Simon Sinek’s book “Start with Why” is...

Culture

…because words really do matter

Time has done it again. We mark the close of one year to welcome a new. When considering the message we want to convey moving forward, take a moment to reflect on your word use. Without delving into the impact of words in social media, in any organization, words are...

Sesame Street

Stepping back into childhood and the lessons learned from Big Bird. “Come and playEverything’s A-OKFriendly neighbors there That’s where we meet…” It would be hard to find someone not able to finish the lyrics. Launched in 1969, the creators of Sesame Street...

The Little Vision that could—and DID

Inspiration happens when you allow yourself to “see” things through a different lens. Just when you think you know a place… Vision is sticking to the dream to make it a goal, then a reality, and a triumph over the long term. There is no overnight success…...

Wellness

Protection of Wealth

I’m a firm believer that if you set yourself on the right path, you will meet the right people to help you succeed. From this, I remember that with every interaction, I should be able glean a nugget which will help me personally, professionally, or both. This, I am...

Building a workplace wellness culture

Is building a “Workplace Wellness Culture” even possible when these are three separate and distinct entities of being? Wellness, for instance, is defined as an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. According to...

Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

Prior to March 2020, more than 30% of all disability claims in Canada were mental health related. Even with such staggering figures, and despite EAP programs having been around for decades, employer’s response to implementing Employee Assistance Programs remained a...