{"id":17217,"date":"2019-10-17T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T13:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.benefitscanada.com\/news\/canadian-employers-expanding-benefits-wellness-programs-survey-137346"},"modified":"2019-10-17T09:00:22","modified_gmt":"2019-10-17T13:00:22","slug":"canadian-employers-expanding-benefits-wellness-programs-survey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/2019\/10\/17\/canadian-employers-expanding-benefits-wellness-programs-survey\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian employers expanding benefits, wellness programs: survey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\"Copyright <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Staff<\/span> | October 17, 2019 <\/p>\n

As Canadian employers seek to attract and retain top talent, the majority (66 per cent) are focusing on making salaries more competitive, according to a new survey by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.<\/p>\n

However, the survey\u2019s respondents are aware salary isn\u2019t everything. One-third (34 per cent) of employers said they\u2019re upgrading their well-being initiatives to attract talent and 26 per cent said they\u2019re improving leave policies.<\/p>\n

The survey of 506 Canadian organizations found the majority said they expect both revenue and headcount to increase by 2021. As they prepare for those changes, 55 per cent said their most common challenge is controlling benefits costs, while around the same amount (54 per cent) cited attracting and retaining a strong employee base.<\/p>\n

Read: In workplace wellness programs, is it better to use the carrot or the stick?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Employers are taking \u201cincremental\u201d steps to improve non-core benefits, the survey found. Almost six in 10 (59 per cent) employers said they now offer short-term disability plans, while 64 per cent said they have an education subsidy.<\/p>\n

While fewer (53 per cent compared to 62 per cent) employers said they offer personal days compared to 2018, the number of vacation weeks offered to new hires has increased. Almost half (47 per cent) of organizations said they give employees three weeks of vacation in their first year, up eight per cent from last year. And nearly one-third (28 per cent) of employers said they offer flex days, which Gallagher said demonstrates employers are becoming \u201cmore attuned to the multiple demands on employees in their daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read: What are the ingredients of a successful wellness program?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The survey also noted \u201cgradual but steady\u201d increases in the offering of well-being benefits that support employees\u2019 financial, career, emotional and physical well-being. Two-thirds (67 per cent) of employers said they currently offer some employee well-being resources but don\u2019t have a supporting strategy. However, among employers without a well-being strategy, 39 per cent said they plan to implement one by 2021.<\/p>\n

The top three reasons for investing in well-being initiatives were strengthening employee engagement (59 per cent), fostering a desirable culture (50 per cent) and improving employees\u2019 experience (45 per cent).<\/p>\n

Read: How KMPG Canada flexed its benefits program with a plan redesign<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of the more common employee well-being initiatives offered by employers include:<\/p>\n