MP Benefits Perspective

What are we going “back” to? In a recent “Every Other Wednesday” interview, Steve Browne, SHRM-SCP, Chief People Officer at LaRosa’s Inc. and author of HR on Purpose, suggested that the past often looks rosier than when lived in the moment. Further businesses should...

Administrator’s Duties (Part 2)

Thanks to MLT Aikins LLP for your presentation with CPBI. Often overlooked is the liability associated with the administration of an employee group benefit plan. Some basic duties of a plan administrator (who may or may not be the employer) include: Contractual duties...

Administrator’s Duties (Part 1)

Very often, we as brokers, are asked “why”, if an employee doesn’t want to pay their portion of the premium or simply don’t want the coverage, do they have to participate on the group benefit plan? In striving to make comparisons easily understood by plan...

Benefits

More communication required

We, in the benefit world, brokers, consultants, insurers—ALL—need to do a much better job communicating, not just with our clients, but with the providers. Have you ever looked at what is written for staff at medical offices for “dealing with insurance companies”?...

A Promising Future for Cancer Therapies

We live in an exciting time where science is becoming more and more capable of solving some of our most pressing issues. Cancer being one of the biggest problems, where approximately one in two Canadians are likely to develop cancer in their lifetime. Still startling,...

The Right Fit

Never “Set it and Leave it” Benefits is a high touch insurance offering…never a set and leave it proposition. From the initial conversation about the value and purpose to the on-going support, a consultant needs to be there for: claims questions, issues and resolution...

Compensation

The impact of reduced employee participation and the Renewal

For the last two years, employers have been left holding the bag, as it were, for employees no longer covered under a benefit plan. Though it is true, fewer employees on a benefit plan reduces the premium costs. But what about the impact of this reduction at renewal...

What Employees Expect

It is no secret, employee group benefit plans provide a substantial financial advantage to employees who benefit per their own workplace or via a spousal program. Though offering benefits is not legally required of employers, according to a 2016 Sun Life Financial...

Flexible Benefits

It is very difficult to a benefit plan to suit “everyone’s” needs as well as satisfy their wants. A plan that not only appeals to the employees but is within the right price index to meet the requirements of the employer AND be sustainable over the long term. Let’s...

Culture

Humour Quest

“I’m struck by how laughter connects you with people. It’s impossible to sustain any kind of distance or any sense of social hierarchy when you’re just howling with laughter.” John Cleese Humour in business is key to success Anyone who has spoken in public knows the...

The Post Pandemic Dopamine Rush

A lot is being written about getting people "back" to work, as though the actual labour and productivity in most cases ever stopped. Yes, some areas of the economy did have stoppage, but for the most part, we managed a work around. It seems though that the real...

What does the future hold for Employee Retention?

As we have circled the calendar of this pandemic, employee surveys suggest one in four Canadian professionals are considering a career change. Morneau Shepell’s Mental Health Index™ report shows a worsening of psychological health, an increase in employment...