AMID
all the turmoil of the pandemic and its
impact on the workplace, employee
benefits have taken centre stage, not just because
of employee health but because they add up to a
sizeable expense in the midst of a bleak economy.
But in looking at how employers have
responded so far — and how they should be
responding going forward — experts say now is a
great time for a reappraisal.
This pandemic has pretty much changed
everything for employers, says Paula Allen,
senior vice president of research, analytics and
innovation at Morneau Shepell in Toronto.
"It's like a big asteroid in what we have as
expectations, what we see as risk, what we see
as needs and, certainly, benefits are definitely a
part of that because people's health is essential
to a lot of conversation," she says.
"Whenever you have any kind of crisis or
whenever you have any kind of change, it's an
opportunity for the best of fresh starts, which is
to think about, really, what is the most positive
approach that you can take to make things
better for your workplace and your people, as
opposed to just meeting the minimum need?"
The turmoil of the pandemic provides a
great opportunity for a reset, says Chris Gory,
president of Orchard Benefits in Toronto.
WWW.HRREPORTER.COM ISSUE 33.10
THE NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Benefits in spotlight
with 'new normal'
'Frightening' decision?
Court of Appeal decides an employer
didn't go far enough in trying to
accommodate a worker taking marijuana
/10
Executive comp in a crisis
Looking ahead, companies should focus
on ensuring they retain — or gain — the
ability to modify compensation programs
/18
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE…
Court clarifies severance in M&As
Employers take note: Reasonable
notice went under the microscope in an
Ontario court recently /14
The ethics of safety
As HR looks to provide some sense
of normalcy, three core principles
are invaluable for employers as they
grapple with the pandemic /20
Did they really quit?
After a dispute between an employee
and management, it may be unclear if
the person actually quit, as seen in a
recent Alberta decision /28
> pg. 2
Looking to balance cost cuts with employee health,
employers have been busy assessing benefit offerings.
And with expected rises in mental health and disability
claims, along with newer tools such as virtual care, it's a
great time for a reset, finds Sarah Dobson
Collaborating through tech
In an exclusive roundtable, we hear
about the crucial role collaborative tools
play in the new world of work
/26
