Author name: Benchmark

  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 …

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

Key summary: Hybrid work leads to improved health outcomes and fewer sick days for employees. Employers can respond by offering flexible, data-informed benefit plans that better reflect the realities of modern work.  Introduction    Hybrid work is no longer an experiment. It’s the new normal for many Canadian organizations and it’s reshaping the way employees …

Why Hybrid Work Is a Hidden Win for Your Employee Benefit Solutions Read More »

In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, expectations around compensation have shifted. Employees are no longer just looking for a salary. They’re looking for stability, flexibility, and long-term support. That’s why employee benefits plans have become a central part of any competitive employer offering.  But what exactly do modern benefits plans include? And how can you ensure …

What Do Employee Benefits Plans Include for the Modern Workforce? Read More »

When your company is ready to build or rethink its employee benefits plan, one of the most important choices you’ll make isn’t about coverage. It’s about who’s helping you make those decisions: an employee benefits broker or an employee benefits consultant. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same. The difference …

Employee Benefits Broker vs. Employee Benefit Consultant: 5 Key Differences That Matter Read More »