one chronic disease or condition, employers underestimate the
proportion of their workforce with a chronic condition (29 per
cent). About three-quarters (77 per cent) of employers indicate
they are concerned about the impact of unmanaged chronic disease
on the productivity of their workforce.
However, both groups are open to new benefit offerings in
the area of chronic disease management, with a solid majority of
employees (66 per cent) who would consent to their benefit carriers
analyzing their personal claims data in order to generate
personal, targeted communications. A similar proportion (64 per
cent) of employers are interested in such a service from their benefit
carrier.
THE IMPACT OF CHRONIC DISEASE AND A
DESIRE FOR NEW BENEFIT OFFERINGS
■■ Almost half of employees with chronic conditions (47 per cent)
report they have missed work or found it harder to do their jobs
as a result; this climbs to 72 per cent among those with a mental
health condition such as depression or anxiety
■■ Eighty-four per cent of employees with a chronic disease would
like to know more about their condition and how to treat it; 79
per cent of employers would like their health benefit plan to do
more to support employees with chronic diseases
■■ Employees are most interested in receiving targeted information
about their medications (52 per cent), recommended local
healthcare professionals or experts (51 per cent) and how to
manage their conditions (47 per cent)
STRESS TAKING A TOLL
■■ One in three employees (33 per cent) report high levels of stress
on a typical day over the past three months, increasing to 50 per
cent among those in poor financial health
■■ The top sources of stress are personal finances (38 per cent),
workload (37 per cent) and work/life balance (31 per cent)
■■ Twenty-six per cent of employees took time off or left work
early due to stress in the past year
MEDICAL CANNABIS: OPINIONS DIVIDED
■■ Sixty-four per cent of employees agree that medical cannabis,
when authorized by a physician, should be covered by their
health benefit plan
■■ Employers are much more undecided: 34 per cent would like
their plan to cover medical cannabis (including eight per cent
who say they already do), 34 per cent do not want it covered and
32 per cent do not know or are unsure
The full report is available at Sanofi Canada’s website,
www.sanofi.ca. This year’s report also includes “Top 10 Calls of
Action” for plan sponsors and their benefit providers.
CANNABIS LEGALIZATION SPARKING CONCERNS
FOR CANADIAN ORGANIZATIONS
With the passing of Bill C-45 Canada is set legalize cannabis
for recreational use on Oct. 17. More than half (52 per
cent) of Canadian organizations are either concerned or very
concerned about the implications this will have on the workplace
according to a new report by The Conference Board of
Canada (CBC).
“Workplace safety is consistently flagged as employers’ top concern
with legalization, but the solution is not one-size-fits-all,”
said Bryan Benjamin, vice-president, organizational performance,
CBC. “Gauging and managing impairment, adapting workplace
policies and ensuring employees are educated on what is allowed
and what remains prohibited are all crucial components to a
smooth transition to legalization.”
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“WORKPLACE SAFETY IS
CONSISTENTLY FLAGGED AS
EMPLOYERS’ TOP CONCERN
WITH LEGALIZATION, BUT
THE SOLUTION IS NOT
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.”
– BRYAN BENJAMIN
jirkaejc / 123RF Stock Photo
8 ❚ JULY 2018 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL
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