Benefits Alliance Voice

Hosted by Benefits Alliance Voice

Business

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-CA

About the show

The Benefits Alliance Voice was created for those wanting to keep up with what's happening in the Canadian Group Benefits and Group Retirement industry. As the voice of the industry, we will cover topics ranging from Pharmacare, Financial Literacy, Building a Group Benefits Plan, Virtual Healthcare, Changes to Employment Insurance (EI), Canadian Disability Coverage, and more! Subscribe to hear the latest episodes!

Listen to episodes

55 recent

October 21, 2026Episode 5539 min

Your Health Story Should Be in Your Hands

In this episode, Jessica Chalk shares how her own fertility and health journey inspired myStoria , a tool designed to help patients and caregivers take control of their records, reduce the overwhelm of complex care, and show up to appointments with more clarity and confidence. What You Will Learn: Why managing a complex health journey can feel like a second full-time job. How fragmented medical records and disconnected providers can create real confusion and delays. Why patients need access to their own records, not just a portal summary. How to communicate more effectively with doctors when you have a lot of health data. Why human support still matters alongside AI in healthcare. How caregiving affects work, home life, finances, and emotional well-being. What MyStoria does to help patients and caregivers organize, understand, and act on their health information. Why advocacy and ownership of your own health story can change outcomes. Keywords: patient advocacy, health records, caregiving, fertility journey, chronic illness, healthcare navigation, medical concierge, patient empowerment, AI in healthcare, complex care

October 7, 2026Episode 5429 min

The Hidden Cost Shock of US Benefits for Canadian Employers

Canadian companies hiring in the U.S. quickly discover that benefits are not just different - they require a completely different strategy. Rob and Carolyne interview an expert on the U.S. employee benefit landscape. What You Will Learn : Why U.S. benefits can feel dramatically more expensive than Canadian benefits. How employer cost sharing typically works in the U.S. Why dependent coverage is often the biggest hidden cost. How small-group renewals work when claims data is limited. The difference between FSA and HSA accounts. How short-term disability and 401(k) planning fit into U.S. compensation. Canadian employers, U.S. benefits, cross-border hiring, employee benefits, healthcare costs, dependent coverage, HSA, FSA, short-term disability, 401(k), benefits strategy, small business expansion

August 27, 2026Episode 5333 min

Reinventing Retirement Planning with Tech and Trust

In this episode, Joan Milway from Common Wealth Retirement joins Carolyne and Rahim and shares insights into digital self-serve retirement planning, the importance of combining technology with human advice, and the principles guiding their innovative approach to financial wellness. What You Will Learn: Self-serve retirement planning. Integration of human advice and digital tools. Principles of user-centered design. Impact of early planning on retirement security. retirement planning, digital tools, financial advice,self-serve, Common Wealth Retirement, financial wellness, fintech, retirementsecurity

August 12, 2026Episode 5235 min

Men's Health in the Workplace: A Shift Toward Proactivity

In this episode, Rob and Carolyne host Sophia Colaiacovo and Meghan Vallis from Equitable to discuss the importance of proactive men's health initiatives in the workplace. They delve into the current gaps in men's healthcare engagement,barriers to care, and how employers can foster a supportive environment to improve health outcomes. What You Will Learn : The shift from reactive to proactive healthcare, especially for men. Key statistics on men's delayed medical care and its consequences. Barriers men face when seeking healthcare, including environment and stigma. Strategies for employers to promote preventative screenings and mental health support. men’s health, workplace health, preventive care,proactive healthcare, employee wellbeing, men’s mental health, health benefits,employer wellness programs, healthcare engagement, health screenings, healthcommunication, stigma in healthcare, workplace culture, leadership and health,occupational wellbeing, mental health support, benefits strategy, employeebenefits, wellness at work, health prevention

June 11, 2026Episode 5136 min

Unlocking Group Retirement Plan Success

This episode features Sun Life experts Joe De Dominicis and Jackie Patel discussing Canadian workplace retirement plans, the importance of financial wellness, innovative plan design, and the impact of digital engagement on member outcomes. Gain insights into the latest trends, data from the Design for Savings report, and practical advice for employers and advisors. What You Will Learn: Workplace savings plan design and trends Impact of digital engagement on member balances Success of Target date funds Decumulation strategies and challenges retirement plans, workplace savings, target date funds, digital engagement, financial wellness, Canadian pension system, plan design, member outcomes

May 27, 2026Episode 5034 min

Understanding Eco-Anxiety in the Workplace: A New Challenge for Employers

Guest Simon Coulombe joins Carolyne and Rob to explore the emerging issue of eco-anxiety in the workplace, its impact on mental health, especially among younger employees, andstrategies for employers to recognize and address this concern effectively. What You Will Learn: Eco-anxiety definition and dimensions. Impact of eco-anxiety on mental health and work performance. Strategies for employers to recognize and mitigate eco-anxiety. eco-anxiety, mentalhealth, workplace wellness, employee engagement, climate change, organizationalculture, proactive strategies

May 13, 2026Episode 4939 min

The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Grief in the Workplace

This episode explores the critical role of workplace support during grief, featuring personal stories and expert insights on how employers can better support employees through loss. Justin Clifford , CEO of Bereave and Shannon McShane-Reed , SVP-Group Benefits at Penmore join Carolyne and Rob to share practical strategies and emotional insights to fostercompassionate workplace cultures. What You Will Learn: The impact of grief on employee productivity and retention. Practical strategies for supporting grieving employees. The importance of organizational culture in handling loss. grief support, workplace mental health, employee retention, bereavement policies, emotional well-being, HR strategies, corporate culture, loss at work, employee support programs, grief in the workplace

April 29, 2026Episode 4829 min

Advisors in Action: The 3 E's of Successful Employee Savings Plans

The 3 E's of Successful Employee Savings Plans: E ase, E ducation, E ngagement from the top In this episode, Carolyne and Rahim host 2 GRS consultants, Jackie Nicholls from Acera Insurance and Lisa Robson from Belay Advisory , who share insights on employee savings plans with a focus on the importance of ease, education, and leadership engagement to boost participation and success. What You Will Learn: Importance of leadership engagement in employee savings and why it matters. Effective communication and education strategies. Use of digital tools and data analytics in plan management. employeesavings plans, retirement, engagement, education, leadership, financialliteracy, plan implementation, communication, digital tools, best practices

April 15, 2026Episode 4726 min

Reimagining Retirement: Strategies for All Generations

This episode explores the evolving landscape of retirement planning across different generations, emphasizing flexibility, personalized advice, and innovative plan design to meet diverse needs. Tawnya Duxbury from Canada Life joins Carolyne and Rahim and shares insights on how plan sponsors can adapt to these changes. What You Will Learn : Generational differences in retirement planning. The shift towards flexible retirement stages. The importance of personalized financial advice. Plan design strategies for diverse age groups. Encouraging long-term savings and smart withdrawals. Life in focus benchmark report retirement planning, generational differences, plan design, financial advice, flexibility, Canada Life

April 1, 2026Episode 4631 min

Navigating Neurodiversity in the Workplace

In this episode, Melissa St-Louis , co-founder of Nüense , joins Rob and Carolyne to discuss the importance of neuro-inclusion in the workplace. She explains the concept of neurodiversity, the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in organizations, and the need for better communication and support systems. Melissa emphasizes the significance of creating accessible work environments and fostering psychological safety for open conversations about needs and accommodations. What You Will Learn: The definition of neurodiversity. Why the disclosure of neurodivergent status can be challenging. How accessible work environments benefits all employees, not just neurodivergent individuals. Why training for managers on neurodiversity is crucial. The underlying challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals. How modernizing communication strategies can enhance employee engagement and understanding of benefits. Keywords: neurodiversity, neuro-inclusion, organizational development, workplace accommodations, mental health, employee support, communication strategies, accessibility, psychological safety, training, Nüense

Is this your show?

Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.

Claim this listing

More Business podcasts

The Bottom Line

Alexander Spencer

BusinessInterviews guests