Cultivating Conversation on Mental Health in the Workplace
By Michele MactaggartWith growing awareness of how mental wellbeing impacts productivity, job satisfaction and overall quality of life, it’s more essential than ever for employers to foster a culture that prioritizes mental health. This involves not only creating mental health-friendly policies, but also encouraging open and honest discussion about mental well-being among employees. “Often, when talking mental […]
A Chat with Michele Mactaggert, President of Bensol, on Celebrating Two Decades of Service
By Letter MSince 2004, Michele Mactaggart and the Bensol team have been delivering benefits, wellness solutions, and insurance to SMEs, charities, and non-profit organizations. This includes owner and employee insurance, health and dental benefit plans, and GRSP programs to entrepreneurs of all sizes and in various stages of business. Interviewer: Let’s start from the beginning. What inspired […]
Managing Costs: Should You Pass Benefit Premiums on to Your Employees?
By Michele MactaggartManaging costs effectively is crucial for the sustainability and growth of any company. One significant expense that often comes under scrutiny is employee benefits and insurance premiums. Employee benefits, especially health insurance, represent a substantial portion of overall compensation costs. With the continuous rise in healthcare expenses, many businesses find it increasingly difficult to bear […]
Prioritizing Wellness: Discussing Benefits with Your Team
By Michele MactaggartIn today’s professional landscape, where work-life balance is often elusive, prioritizing wellness in the workplace has become more important than ever. As a leader or manager, it’s essential to initiate conversations about benefits and wellness with your team to ensure their overall health and productivity. Addressing these topics is crucial for fostering a positive and […]
At renewal time, should I shop out my plan for the best deal?
By Michele MactaggartThe joys of renewal time; when the temptation to shop around for a new plan can be oh-so-alluring. But before you dive headfirst into the world of comparison shopping, let’s take a moment to consider why sticking to your current plan might actually be the smarter move. First things first, let’s talk stability. Switching benefits […]
Benefits for Smaller Small Business
By Michele MactaggartSmall businesses face tough challenges when it comes to recruiting (and retaining!) top talent because the job market is competitive, and as a small business owner, you’re competing with companies of all sizes. To remain successfully competitive in today’s business world, it’s imperative for small businesses to be offering employees real value, which means meeting […]
GRSPs: Benefiting Everyone’s Future
By Michele MactaggartIf you’re anything like me, you occasionally dream about what you’ll be doing after retirement. Floating on a yacht around the Spanish coast? Travelling the globe now that your kids have left the nest? It’s easy to dream big, but with the cost of living at an all time high, many feel the yacht may […]
Holiday Giving: Benefits for All
By Michele MactaggartAs our children eagerly count down the days until Santa’s arrival, thousands of charities across the country await donations and volunteering that will allow them to continue making a difference in their communities. According to Imagine Canada, over 40 percent of all annual donations happen the last eight weeks of the year. This year, the […]
Rethinking Big Bonuses: Get Creative with Your Incentives
By Michele MactaggartIn a super broad, umbrella definition, a bonus refers to cash payments given in lump sums. The term itself is rather exciting – it’s extra, additional… more! And in the language of making money, more is always good. As we’ve been reading, a signing bonus is becoming increasingly popular as employers pull out all the […]
Value Over Cost – How to Positively Approach Benefit Renewals
By Michele MactaggartWhen it comes to employee group benefits, the whole administrative process can be daunting – what makes it worse? When you go to renew, and the cost has spiked. What’s that all about? Group benefit costs in Canada are forecasted to rise 7 per cent in 2022. A combination of higher costs for prescription drugs, […]
