Benefits Alliance Voice

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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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!

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51 recent

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 trendsImpact of digital engagement on member balancesSuccess of Target date funds Decumulation strategies and challengesretirement 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:Ease, Education, Engagement from the topIn 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 reportretirement 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

March 18, 2026Episode 4548 min

Bridging the Gap - Retirement Readiness Across Generations

In this episode, Carolyne and Rahim welcome Jeri Savage and Nick DeLisi from MFS Investment Management Canada to discuss their insights on retirement planning based on results of recent surveys that check in with plan members, plan sponsors and advisors. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding generational differences in retirement expectations and the impact of competing financial priorities on retirement readiness. Jeri and Nick emphasize the need for personalized guidance and education to help members navigate their retirement planning effectively. The discussion also reveals surprising trends, including the persistent misunderstandings surrounding target date funds. The guests share actionable takeaways for employers andadvisors, stressing the importance of aligning strategies to improve member outcomes. What You Will Learn:Why confidence in retirement readiness is declining in some generations.Members misunderstandings associated with target date funds.The increasing demand for personalized guidance in retirement planning.The alignment of concerns between plan members and sponsors.Education and communication are key to improving retirement outcomes. retirement planning, MFS Investment Management,retirement surveys, financial priorities, target date funds, retirementreadiness, generational differences, retirement confidence, personalizedguidance, plan sponsors

March 4, 2026Episode 4441 min

Kids Aren't Tiny Adults - Understanding Virtual Care for Infants, Children and Teens

In this conversation, Ashton Thornton and Adam Saperia from KixCare join Carolyne and Rob to discuss the unique challenges and solutions in pediatric healthcare, emphasizing the importance of virtual care for children and families. They highlight the impact of physical health and mentalhealth on children's well-being and the productivity of arents, advocating for a proactive approach to healthcare that empowers families. The discussion also covers the need for modernizing employee benefits to include comprehensivepediatric care, ensuring that families have access to timely and effective support that prevents visits to ER and long waiting lists so employees can quickly get re-focused on work.What You Will Learn: Kixcare focuses on pediatric care, emphasizing that kids are not just small adults - the physical and mental health care required by infants, young children and teens is managed differently than with adults.The mental health of children significantly impacts parental productivity.Proactive healthcare can prevent more serious health issues in children.Virtual care allows for immediate access to pediatric expertise with regular touchpoints until the illness is resolved or in the hands of a capable practitioner.Families benefit from a comprehensive ecosystem of healthcare providers.Parents need support and knowledge to navigate their children's health.Kixcare aims to modernize benefits for families, making healthcare accessible.Utilization rates for Kixcare services are significantly higher than traditional options.Keywords:Kixcare, pediatric care, virtual care, mental health, family health, proactive care, employee benefits, healthcareinnovation, child health, telehealth

February 4, 2026Episode 4323 min

Navigating the World of Specialized Risk Insurance

In this episode of the Benefits Alliance podcast, hostsRob and Carolyne engage with Mylène Desjardins and RosyRosario from Beneva to explore the nuances of specialized risk insurance. They discuss how this type of insurance differs from traditional plans, the importance of understanding high-risk situations, and the critical role of advisors in ensuring comprehensive coverage for employees. What You Will Learn:Special risk insurance is essential for high-risk situations.Traditional insurance may not cover all employee needs.Advisors play a crucial role in identifying coveragegaps.Special risk insurance can significantly impact familiesduring crises.Beneva offers tailored solutions for diverse employeeneeds. Keywords:specialized risk insurance, traditional insurance, high-risk coverage, employee benefits, Beneva, insurance advisors, critical illness, accident insurance, employee protection, insurance landscape

January 15, 2026Episode 4237 min

Recognizing Obesity as a Chronic Condition: The Case for Coverage, Inclusion and Lower Claims Costs

Rob and Carolyne chat with Sandra Elia from Obesity Matters and Dr. Sandy Van, a Weight Management Physician, aboutsupporting employees who suffer from obesity - an ailment that is responsible for many drug costs. Hear all about how addressing the root cause may lower claims overall and will reduce absenteeism along with short- and long-term disability costs. What You Will Learn: Obesity is a chronic, complex medical condition that requires comprehensive treatment. Obesity medications should be covered by employee benefitplans like other chronic illnesses.Covering obesity drugs may reduce other drug costs and can result in fewer short- and long-term disability claims.Creating an inclusive work environment is crucial for employee well-being.Employers can improve productivity by addressingobesity in the workplace.