Canada’s New Global Skills Visa Program: Important Note About Employee Health Insurance

There is a shortage of tech talent in Canada, especially in cities like Toronto. To address this, the Canadian government launched the global skills visa program to allow Canadian companies to bring in foreign workers within two weeks. Up until this program launched, it would take up to a year to bring a foreign worker… Continue reading Canada’s New Global Skills Visa Program: Important Note About Employee Health Insurance

What U.S. Based Startups Opening Canadian Offices Need to Know About Employee Benefits

I speak with a lot of U.S. based startups that have or are looking to set up shop in Canada, specifically Toronto. Different laws, healthcare systems, policies and even corporate cultures between Canada and the U.S. create a big learning curve for the founders of these startups. I’ve compiled a list of the most frequently… Continue reading What U.S. Based Startups Opening Canadian Offices Need to Know About Employee Benefits

Canada’s Top 2016 Employee Benefits Companies

It’s that time again – the latest figures on employee benefits coverage in Canada have been released. Every April, Benefits Canada releases data on the top employee benefits providers in Canada. Some years, there are interesting stories behind dramatic changes in the year-to-year figures. For example, in the 2016 results, Manulife saw a significant increase… Continue reading Canada’s Top 2016 Employee Benefits Companies

Most Employees Vastly Underestimate Their Total Compensation

This is an article that I previously provided to The Globe and Mail: If you’re a small business with staffing concerns, you’re not alone: over 50 per cent of business owners are worried about attracting the right candidates, and retaining their key players once they find them. The latter can be especially difficult in the startup space,… Continue reading Most Employees Vastly Underestimate Their Total Compensation

Why So Many Entrepreneurs Struggle With Mental Illness

This is an article that I previously provided to The Globe and Mail. Although we often read stories about successful Canadian startups – Shopify, Wattpad, Wealthsimple, and others – the reality is that many startups fail, and even those that succeed often experience a series of extreme highs and lows as they grow. With failure… Continue reading Why So Many Entrepreneurs Struggle With Mental Illness

5 Things To Consider When Selecting A Health Benefits Plan For Your Startup

You’ve made the decision to launch a health benefits plan for your growing startup. What do you do next? Before you do anything, read this article. Doing so will help you make an informed decision on how you go about bringing the best employee benefits plan to your team. Who to Work With When selecting… Continue reading 5 Things To Consider When Selecting A Health Benefits Plan For Your Startup

Two Rules To Protect Your Startup When Employees Leave

Building a company certainly comes with challenges and pressures, including preventing your top talent from hitting the free agency market (especially in Toronto’s highly competitive startup space). Although employee benefits plans improve retention rates and employee satisfaction, the reality is that employees will come and go. When they go, you need to make sure you… Continue reading Two Rules To Protect Your Startup When Employees Leave

Are You Providing Health Benefits Coverage That Your Team Actually Wants?

I talk to a lot of startups about health benefits coverage. While there are differences from company to company, massage, dental, vision and drug coverage have always been top requests. However, over the past 18-24 months, I’ve noticed a shift in what startups are looking for in terms of health benefits coverage for their teams.… Continue reading Are You Providing Health Benefits Coverage That Your Team Actually Wants?

Three Ways Toronto Startups are Benefitting from Offering Employee Benefits Plans

These days, employee benefits are an important part of doing business, especially for startups. Fast-growing businesses that take care of their employees are the ones that stand out from the crowd as a great place to work and a highly valuable company. We’ve identified three major benefits of providing startup employees with health plans and… Continue reading Three Ways Toronto Startups are Benefitting from Offering Employee Benefits Plans

Has Your Startup Thought About Employee Benefits?

This is an article that I previously provided to BetaKit: When it comes to evaluating benefits for your startup, it’s not always about focusing on traditional plans, especially if you’re looking to recruit and retain younger staff. When building a benefits plan for a millennial workforce, it’s important to consider alternatives beyond the standard offering,… Continue reading Has Your Startup Thought About Employee Benefits?