“So, what are the benefits like?” Certainly not an uncommon question from a new employee at orientation. But really, what are your benefits like? Does the company pay for laser vision eye care? Or how about fertility drugs or subsidized fitness memberships?
The list of what employees want may seem endless.
I have tracked down some Web sites that can keep you current with trends in the benefit world.
Benefits Interface
www.benefits.org/
While the site is a little difficult to navigate, there are some good reference articles once you get past the home page. Click on the “shaking hands” icon near the top left of the home page to find explanations for common benefits like wellness programs and flexible benefits, and not-so-common benefits like group legal and mortgage subsidy. Click on the “exclamation mark” icon to view and discuss “issues of concern to Canadian employers.”
Benefit News
www.benefitnews.com
Although it’s an American site, Benefit News does track some of the trends that, sooner or later, will make their way to Canada. To access most of the resources you need to become a registered user, but registration is free and is very simple to do. All issues since January 1995 have been archived online and are available either through searching for specific articles or by viewing the table of contents for each issue.
Benefits Canada
www.benefitscanada.com
Benefits Canada magazine offers some useful resources and access to some good articles online. To search for articles, click on “Editorial Index” on the menu bar located to the left of the page. In addition to performing your search online, the site offers assistance by telephone in searching for articles. Information on trends can be found through general articles, reports and industry papers by clicking on “Health Benefits” on the menu bar.
Employers Online
http://employers.gc.ca/
A site frequently reviewed in this column, the Government of Canada-Employers Online Web site also provides some great links to resources on benefit programs. After selecting English or French click on “Human Resource Management” on the left side, then “Pay and Benefits” on the right side for benefits information.
More information:
•http://stats.bls.gov/ebshome.htm
•http://www.ifebp.org/iclinks.html
•http://www.benefitslink.com/index.php
•http://www.auxillium.com/beneup3.shtml
The list of what employees want may seem endless.
I have tracked down some Web sites that can keep you current with trends in the benefit world.
Benefits Interface
www.benefits.org/
While the site is a little difficult to navigate, there are some good reference articles once you get past the home page. Click on the “shaking hands” icon near the top left of the home page to find explanations for common benefits like wellness programs and flexible benefits, and not-so-common benefits like group legal and mortgage subsidy. Click on the “exclamation mark” icon to view and discuss “issues of concern to Canadian employers.”
Benefit News
www.benefitnews.com
Although it’s an American site, Benefit News does track some of the trends that, sooner or later, will make their way to Canada. To access most of the resources you need to become a registered user, but registration is free and is very simple to do. All issues since January 1995 have been archived online and are available either through searching for specific articles or by viewing the table of contents for each issue.
Benefits Canada
www.benefitscanada.com
Benefits Canada magazine offers some useful resources and access to some good articles online. To search for articles, click on “Editorial Index” on the menu bar located to the left of the page. In addition to performing your search online, the site offers assistance by telephone in searching for articles. Information on trends can be found through general articles, reports and industry papers by clicking on “Health Benefits” on the menu bar.
Employers Online
http://employers.gc.ca/
A site frequently reviewed in this column, the Government of Canada-Employers Online Web site also provides some great links to resources on benefit programs. After selecting English or French click on “Human Resource Management” on the left side, then “Pay and Benefits” on the right side for benefits information.
More information:
•http://stats.bls.gov/ebshome.htm
•http://www.ifebp.org/iclinks.html
•http://www.benefitslink.com/index.php
•http://www.auxillium.com/beneup3.shtml
