Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS, Author at Word on Benefits

Wild and Not-So-Crazy Predictions About the Future of Work

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

12 Oct 201609 Aug 2018

Will insurance drones fly around and monitor our physical activity, and will Big Brother health plans tell when we’re depressed by monitoring our iPhone activity? Will employers use office space as rental housing for employees? Well, maybe. How about worker teams that […]

Canada Employee Benefits Health Care Wellness

Does Workplace Wellness = Healthier Employees?

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

02 Sep 201605 Feb 2020

Do employees who participate in workplace wellness programs actually become healthier? That’s one of the important questions researchers in Canada have been looking at, along with what kind of return on investment employers can expect from a workplace wellness program. Preliminary results […]

Canada Employee Benefits Mental Health

Strategies for Employers After Disaster Strikes

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

28 Jul 2016

When a disaster like the Fort McMurray wildfire hits, it’s important for employers to have planned not only for how to respond to the immediate disaster but also for its potential lasting impact on employees. “There’s a risk period. Just because someone […]

Canada Employee Benefits Health Care Mental Health

Addiction: Be Ready to Help

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

16 Jun 2016

Imagine summoning the courage to admit you have a problem with addiction and asking for help. Then imagine being put on a waiting list for treatment. Would you still be motivated to get help when a spot opens up—potentially several weeks later? […]

Canada Employee Benefits Health Care Human Resources (HR) Mental Health Wellness

PTSD: An Often Hidden Workplace Issue

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

03 May 201606 Jun 2016

Many people think of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as an issue for war veterans, but it is increasingly gaining attention as a workplace issue. Some Canadian provinces are passing what’s called presumptive legislation around PTSD, which means that when a worker has […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Mental Health Wellness

Which Benefits Make Employees Happy? Ask.

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

15 Apr 2016

Supplying a regular paycheck is an obvious role employers play in supporting their employees’ happiness, but there are other ways organizations can help their employees and plan members be content. The World Happiness Report 2016 Update came out last month, ranking happiness levels […]

Canada Employee Benefits Retirement

Extra Year for ORPP Preparation

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

10 Mar 2016

The largest employers in Ontario have an extra year to prepare for the implementation of the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP), but questions remain about whether the provincial plan will give way to an enhanced Canada Pension Plan (CPP). Background Enhancing the […]

Employee Benefits Wellness

Seven Ways to Combat Sitting at Work

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

22 Feb 201603 Jan 2018

Most adults spend too much time sitting, shortening their life span and increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. But today’s lifestyle is not conducive to being physically active. People may have a long commute, a desk job or a nightly TV-watching […]

Canada Employee Benefits Health Care Legislative

Future of Medical Marijuana Coverage in Canada

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

07 Jan 201607 Jan 2016

Legislative changes along with a new political environment in Canada mean the topic of medical marijuana will likely pick up steam in the coming months and years. While much is unclear, Mike Sullivan lays out important factors for benefit plan sponsors to […]

Canada Employee Benefits Financial Education Financial Wellness

Help Plan Members Celebrate Financial Literacy Month

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

03 Nov 2015

November is Financial Literacy Month in Canada, and the government, under the leadership of financial literacy leader Jane Rooney, has been working to make more information and resources available to consumers and workplaces. Below are highlights of resources available to help engage […]