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Changes in the Workplace That Should Stay Post Covid-19

YXE Benefits offers the simple, stable, smart group benefits choice for Saskatoon businesses; combining accessibility, flexibility and the stability of pooled benefits. Saskatoon companies choose the The Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan because it offers unsurpassed value & outstanding customer service. The Chambers plan group benefits are for Saskatoon Chamber members.  In our latest post, we discuss changes in the workplace that should stay after the Covid-19 pandemic is merely a memory.

Organizations have had to quickly adapt to the changes that have come along with the Covid-19 pandemic by managing policies and procedures daily to comply with government regulations. Through all the changes employees have endured, there are a few positive changes in the workplace that should continue including expanding wellness options, increasing communication practices and the need for absence programs.

Expanding Wellness Knowledge and Efforts

Mental and financial wellness have become more present during these uncertain times for employees. An increased awareness of the warning signs in the lives of people that are struggling with their mental health has been initiated, with virtual resources being offered from some employers. This gives employees a greater accessibility to the resources they may need, especially during the pandemic which has added stress and more attention around everyone’s personal mental wellness. At YXE Benefits we assist by providing resources for mental wellness to both employees and employers.

Employers are also aware of the financial struggles of their employees and some have included financial advisor services within their companies’ benefits program. Whether employees have been given less hours or are working from home on a limited schedule, there has been financial strain for those individuals during this time. We encourage employers to continue highlighting employee wellness within your company and offer a variety of benefits to help get you start initiating one.

In an article by Benefits Canada, they stated that 37% of employers expect to include new resources and tools for overall well-being while 19% of employers plan to increase their financial support for their employees well-being.

 

Heightened Communication Practices

Employers quickly increased communication practices during the Covid-19 pandemic to inform Changes in the Workplace YXE Benefits Saskatoonemployees of how the business and their position was affected and the changes moving forward. Employees represent your brand to the community, if they don’t understand what the company is going through or are misinformed, that could cause harm to the brand’s reputation. After the pandemic is over, employers should continue communicating to their employees about what is going on in the industry and how it not only affects the company but the employees themselves.

Communicating to customers is a different approach since the focus needs to be on what is important to the customer. Companies who increase communication efforts to customers by showing empathy, being proactive and transparent shows the real value of an organization.

Regular communications via email blasts, social media or on the company’s website continue to flow leaving employees and the general public aware of company updates. Communications from the Chambers of Commerce Plan regarding the Covid-19 pandemic are available online.

Changes in the Workplace – Need for Absence Programs

One of the top recommendations to do if you feel ill during the Covid-19 pandemic is to stay home. If employees are back to work or when they return, they may feel obligated to still go into the office in fear of missing work for financial reasons. With short-term and long-term disability options among other absence programs included in an employer’s benefits plan it relieves the stress employees may feel while increasing a safer work environment and decreasing the risk of spreading the infection in the workplace.

The Covid-19 pandemic has enforced change on all of us. It is becoming more vital for companies to provide wellness resources to employees through increased communication practices as well as the ability to offer employees leave without financial strain. These few changes discussed are positive to come out of the pandemic and should be kept in mind long after the pandemic is over.

If you are interested in learning more about The Chamber Plan and how it could benefit you, contact us for a free quote or more information. Chambers Plan combines accessibility, flexibility and the stability of pooled benefits so whether you are looking to start a benefits plan or make additions throughout the pandemic, we are here to help.

We encourage you to connect with us on our Saskatoon social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Contact us today for a quote…. find out if you can benefit!

‘Join the Group- It’s Time To Benefit’

www.yxebenefits.ca

Medical Cannabis by Shoppers Now Available in Saskatchewan

YXE Benefits offers the simple, stable, smart group benefits choice for Saskatoon businesses; combining accessibility, flexibility and the stability of pooled benefits. Saskatoon companies choose the The Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan because it offers unsurpassed value & outstanding customer service. The Chambers plan group benefits are for Saskatoon Chamber members.  In our latest post, we share the news that the Canadian Pharmacy chain, Shoppers now offers medical cannabis on their e-commerce platform to Saskatchewan consumers.

Medical Cannabis by Shoppers

The Shoppers e-commerce platform for medical cannabis (shoppersdrugmart.ca/cannabis) allows patients to order directly from a familiar and trusted Canadian brand. It also provides counselling, strain selection and support.

On Dec 3rd Shoppers Drug Mart shared a media release to share the news.

Shoppers Drug Mart expanded its online platform for the sale of medical cannabis to include Saskatchewan. The service breaks down existing barriers for patients by providing convenient access to a broader range of options through a single source, alongside expert advice and counsel from trusted healthcare professionals.

According to Statistics Canada, over 1.1 million Canadians use cannabis for medical purposes, but more than 800,000 patients are self-medicating with recreational or illegal cannabis, without the guidance of a healthcare professional. In Saskatchewan, 8,952 patients obtain their medical cannabis through the legal system, with a decline of almost 5 per cent in the first six months of 2019. The high rate of self-medicating is concerning as a 2019 survey found that 76 per cent of medical cannabis patients wrongly believe there are no side effects from combining cannabis with other medications.

“Canadians continue to use cannabis for medical purposes but many have been left behind by traditional models. Patients need more convenient access to their medicine with professional oversight and trusted support,” said Jeff Leger, President, Shoppers Drug Mart.

“We expanded Medical Cannabis by Shoppers nationally to provide enhanced service to more patients so they can feel empowered to access medical cannabis by Shoppers through the medical market with the guidance of healthcare professionals.”

 

First launched in Ontario in January 2019 and then in Alberta in April 2019, Medical Cannabis by Shoppers provides patients access to a number of products from Canadian licensed producers, shipped directly and discreetly to their doorstep. Additionally, support is available for patients through the Shoppers cannabis care centre – a call center staffed by professionals who offer counselling and support for patients. Under current regulations, pharmacists cannot dispense medical cannabis from a pharmacy.

Patients in Saskatchewan can now obtain their medical document (authorization from a health care practitioner) directly from shoppersdrugmart.ca/cannabis or bring it to their local Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy to help process the information.  Specialized advisors from the Shoppers cannabis care centre will then contact patients, review their medical history and any contraindications with current medications, and provide support with online registration and strain selection.

Education for pharmacists is supported by the Shoppers Drug Mart Medical Advisory Board, a panel of independent medical experts from across the country who provide guidance and advice on new clinical evidence, and have developed clinical algorithms to help the Shoppers cannabis care Advisors select the correct strain based on the prescriber’s recommendation.

For patients who do not have access to a healthcare practitioner, Shoppers can connect patients to a licensed physician or nurse practitioner to assess whether a patient is an ideal candidate for medical cannabis.  Shoppers can connect patients to healthcare practitioners through an online telemedicine portal or patients can use the Shoppers Clinic Finder at https://cannabis.shoppersdrugmart.ca/medical-document-info

Shoppers has signed supply and quality agreements with 12 cannabis producers to provide a wide variety cannabis brands and medical accessories with the convenience of one medical document.

Read More about Canadian Cannabis Legalization and its impacts in our other cannabis articles 

We encourage you to connect with us on our Saskatoon social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin. 

Contact us today for a quote…. find out if you can benefit!

‘Join the Group- It’s Time To Benefit’
www.yxebenefits.ca

Premier Of Saskatchewan Reinstates PST Exemption on Life & Health Insurance

Have you heard the good news about PST?

“Premier Moe made the important decision yesterday to reinstate the PST exemption on agriculture, life and health insurance.  This is great news for Saskatchewan but it’s going to take time for insurance carriers to update their systems and reimburse taxes paid.  We encourage everyone to patiently watch for updates as they come available.  Thank you, Premier Moe! ” Deb Wiegers – Wiegers Financial & Benefits

PST Exemption on Life & Health Insurance

Global News covered the story here: www.globalnews.ca/news/4047640/pst-exemption-reinstated-saskatchewan-agriculture-life-health-premiums

The Saskatchewan government is exempting the provincial sales tax on agriculture, life and health insurance premiums effective immediately.

The PST was added to those premiums on Aug. 1, 2017. Premier Scott Moe had made reinstating the exemption part of his Saskatchewan Party leadership campaign.

“Our government will help families and small businesses save money, invest and help our province grow,” Moe said in a statement.

“Part of that commitment is to exempt agriculture, life and health insurance from PST.”

Moe said he heard business owners say that paying PST on group health plans may have resulted in fewer jobs being created going forward.

The change is forecast to have a $65-million financial impact on revenue forecast in 2017-18, down to $81 million from $146 million. This covers August 2017 until the end of March 2018. The financial impact for the 2018-19 budget is expected to be $120 million from a projected $240 million in projected insurance PST revenue.

Moe said the loss of revenue will be accommodated in his three-year plan to balance the budget.

“Our fiscal plan remains on track, even with this reinstatement of the PST exemption on crop, life and health insurance,” Moe said.

The exemption is retroactive to Aug. 1, 2017.

As for home and vehicle insurance, those are both sticking around. Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said money is part of the reason.

“It’s definitely significant financially, but we also looked jurisdictionally and we’re not standing alone in having a provincial tax on the other insurances,” she said.

Both Harpauer and Moe said future changes to taxation are ongoing discussions around the cabinet table when asked about potential future repeals of PST on home and vehicle insurance.

Opposition leader Nicole Sarauer said that if the Saskatchewan Party listened to residents prior to the previous budget when this PST was introduced there wouldn’t have been a need for this reversal.

“If they were actually listening to Saskatchewan people and business we would have also seen the walk-back for house and car insurance, for restaurants, for construction; both of which are taking a huge hit and are actually experiencing a slowdown,” Sarauer said.

Officials with the Ministry of Finance said they will be working with the insurance industry to determine the best way to refund people and businesses with PST that has been paid on agriculture, life and health insurance premiums.

More details are expected to be announced on April 10.

 

For more information see http://www.benefitscanada.com/news/saskatchewan-reinstates-tax-exemption-on-health-insurance-premiums-111227

 

The YXE Benefits  is the simple, stable, smart choice for business; combining accessibility, flexibility and the stability of pooled benefits. Saskatoon companies choose the plan because it offers unsurpassed value & outstanding customer service.  We encourage you to connect with us on our new social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin. 

‘Join the Group- It’s Time To Benefit’
www.yxebenefits.ca

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