Canadian HR Reporter is the national journal of human resource management. It features the latest workplace news, HR best practices, employment law commentary and tools and tips for employers to get the most out of their workforce.
Issue link: https://digital.hrreporter.com/i/1285697
NEWS BRIEFS While one in three Canadian organizations (34 per cent) offered telehealth and telemedicine services as part of their employee health benefit packages before COVID-19, even more (36 per cent) who didn't previously offer them have added or are considering adding such services since the global pandemic significantly increased the number of employees working remotely, according to a survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The survey of 226 organizations across Canada — consisting of corporations and single employers (including non-profit organizations), public employers, and multi-employer benefit funds — also revealed that employers are recognizing the toll that the pandemic — with its isolation, risk of illness and economic concerns — has been taking on the mental health of their employees and they are altering their health benefit plans accordingly. Half of the respondents reported that their human resources or multi-employer fund offices have been receiving more questions from employees and members about mental health benefits, while another Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Ontario led the provinces in new job postings per capita as economic reopening plans got underway in June and July, a study has found. Marketing and business data firm TOP Data analyzed the availability of open positions in the various regions across Canada through the application programming interface of job-search website Indeed. com and found that, in mid-July, Prince Edward Island (1,161), Nova Scotia (741) and Ontario (643) led the pack in terms of the number of jobs available per 10,000 people. Those three provinces held the top three figures P.E.I., NOVA SCOTIA SEE MOST JOB POSTINGS MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS PEAK IN POPULARITY 65% Eight in 10 remote workers say that they are partly responsible for cybersecurity while 72 per cent say that they are more aware of the issue since the pandemic began, according to Trend Micro's global poll of 13,200 workers. Almost two-thirds of workers acknowledge that using non- work apps on a company device is risky, but many still do so. Women are twice as likely as men to be primarily responsible for home schooling their children during the pandemic, a survey of 1,100 U.S. business leaders and employees has found. The Catalyst survey also revealed that one in three men claim to have taken on more household chores, but only 13 per cent of women agree. 39 per cent say questions about employee assistance programs (EAPs) have also increased. • 52% have added or are considering adding services/ components • 25% have added or are considering telepsychiatry/ telemental health benefits (38% already in place) • 13% have or are considering relaxing eligibility requirements (40% already in place) • 13% have or are considering reducing/eliminating cost sharing for mental health benefits (26% already in place) since the beginning of the study in late May. New jobs weren't so plentiful in the Prairies, with Manitoba showing only 81 open positions per 10,000 people and Saskatchewan at 61. Back out on the east coast, Newfoundland and Labrador wasn't fairing as well as its regional neighbours, bringing up the rear with only 40 jobs available for every 10,000 people residing in the province. Despite the fact that the pandemic has initiated a recession, TOP Data projected the number of jobs available will increase as the economic reopening swings into gear. 52% 25% 13% 13% 31% of women have felt ignored and overlooked by co-workers during video calls 24% of women think it's difficult for women to speak up in virtual meetings (42% of men) 22% of workers have witnessed more discrimination at work since the outbreak of COVID-19 Gender inequality not going away Remote work risky for cybersecurity • 63% of workers "often" or "always" access com- pany data from a personal device • 42% of workers think it's fine to use a non-work app because IT-backed solutions are "nonsense" RISKY BEHAVIOUR UNEQUAL VIRTUAL WORKPLACES EMPLOYER CHANGES 16 www.hrreporter.com M A R K E T N E W S