Author name: Benchmark

Key Takeaways  Employee expectations in 2026 are shifting from coverage to experience, with time autonomy, wellbeing, and values alignment playing a central role in how benefits are perceived.  Benefits that support rest, purpose, and whole-person wellbeing are now directly linked to performance and retention, not just employee satisfaction.  The greatest impact comes from integrating these offerings together, creating a …

Three Employee Benefit Offerings Employers Can’t Ignore in 2026 Read More »

Mental health has firmly entered the employer agenda. Canadian organizations increasingly recognize that employee mental wellbeing is not a “nice to have,” but a core part of workforce sustainability, productivity, and retention.  Yet a significant gap remains between intent and action.  Recent research shows that while 87% of organizations believe they are responsible for supporting employee mental wellbeing, fewer than half (46%) …

Mental Health Benefits in Canada: Why Awareness Is High but Access Still Lags Read More »

  As Canadian employers look toward 2026, the benefits landscape is becoming more complex, more visible, and more tightly linked to workforce strategy. Cost pressures remain high, employee expectations continue to evolve, and regulatory and market signals are pushing benefits out of the background and into the spotlight.  What’s changing is not just what benefits employers offer, but how they are governed, …

Top Employee Benefits Trends for 2026: What CHROs Need to Prepare For  Read More »

Pay Transparency Will Force a Total Rewards Reset  Pay transparency is no longer a future concept. In Canada, it is becoming a regulatory and cultural reality that will fundamentally reshape how employers think about compensation, benefits, and total rewards.  With Ontario requiring salary ranges in job postings having started on January 1, 2026, employers are entering a …

Pay Transparency Will Force a Total Rewards Reset Read More »

  Ontario is preparing for one of the most significant shifts in workplace transparency in recent years. Beginning January 1, 2026, employers with 25 or more employees will need to include salary ranges in job postings. Before that, on July 1, 2025, organizations must begin providing written employment details to new hires before day one.  Together, these changes will …

Pay Transparency Is Coming to Ontario: How Employee Benefits Consultants Can Help Employers Prepare  Read More »

    Key Summary  Context: With economic uncertainty and rising living costs in Canada, employee financial wellness is a growing priority for HR leaders. Purpose: Employee savings plans help organizations support long-term financial security, boost engagement, and improve retention. Plan Types: Common options include Group RRSPs, Registered Pension Plans (RPPs), Target Benefit Plans (TBPs) and …

Employee Savings Plans Explained: Tax Advantages, Compliance, and Engagement Tips for Canadian Employers Read More »

  Key Summary  Focus: Employee benefits consulting helps organizations design, manage, and optimize benefits programs that align with business and people strategies.  Why it Matters: With economic uncertainty and rising employee expectations, strategic consulting helps employers maximize impact from existing benefits investments.  What’s Included: Group benefits, employee savings plans, and corporate wellness initiatives work together to form a holistic total …

Employee Benefits Consulting Explained: How Strategic Advice Transforms Total Rewards  Read More »

Introduction  Financial stress is no longer a personal issue that employees leave at the door when they arrive at work. It’s a workplace issue with direct consequences on productivity, retention, and overall wellbeing. Nearly half of Canadians say they’ve lost sleep because of financial worries, and nearly one in three report being short of money …

From Stress to Stability: How Employee Benefit Plans Can Ease Financial Pressure Read More »

Introduction  For a long time, the phrase “employee wellness” often meant a free yoga class at lunch or a discounted gym membership. While these initiatives were appreciated, they barely scratched the surface of what today’s workforce actually needs.  Modern employees are facing very different challenges. Rising rates of stress, the financial pressures of inflation and …

Beyond Gym Discounts: What Modern Employee Wellness Really Looks Like Read More »

    Key summary: Side hustles are increasingly common among Canadian employees as a financial safety net. Employers can respond by updating benefits and policies to support financial wellbeing, flexibility, and skill development in today’s multi-income workforce.  Introduction  Side hustles are no longer just about passion projects or entrepreneurial dreams. For many Canadians, they’ve become …

What Side Hustles Mean for Employee Benefits and How Employers Can Adapt Read More »