Hi there, welcome to the November edition of the Smart Benefits Newsletter!

As colder temperatures set in, stay warm and informed with benefits news and updates! Take a moment to relax, grab a hot beverage, cozy up, and enjoy the latest SEB news, benefits insights, and recent happenings in the industry.

Benefits for Pet Owners Evolving Through Paid Leave, Wellness Accounts

Pet benefits are gaining traction as employers seek innovative ways to stand out. Talk Shop Media's 'pawrental' leave policy, introduced in August 2022, allows employees to take time off when adopting a pet. The policy, inspired by employee feedback, grants three paid pawrental leave days per year for those with at least one year of service, with additional unpaid days at supervisors' discretion.

Viver Launched at Carte Event

On October 25th, Viver was launched at the Carte Financial 10th annual conference, highly attended by industry professionals. Viver aims to help insurance advisors access the group benefits market for small businesses through an innovative, easy-to-use platform. Powered by SEB, the technology partner, and underwritten by Co-operators, Viver delivers an innovative insurtech solution that simplifies the group benefits process. Explore Viver's transformative approach to group benefits on their new website!
Viver.ca

Benefit Planning to Meet the Diverse Needs of Every Generation

In today's diverse workforce, offering comprehensive benefits packages that cater to multiple generations is essential. Flexibility is required when it comes to benefit packages, with a core plan that can be supplemented with choices for different ages and life stages. This helps increase satisfaction, improve productivity, and retain and recruit valuable employees.

SEB And GotoDoctor.ca Partner to make Primary Care And Healthcare Services more Accesible

SEB Admin and Gotodoctor.ca are partnering to provide comprehensive in-person and virtual healthcare for employees and their families across Canada. SEB Admin's clients will have access to a leading virtual/in-person physician care and health system navigator, ensuring expedited access to healthcare services and employee benefits. Additionally, SEB Admin and Gotodoctor.ca are developing a fully integrated health and wellness platform focused on mental, physical, financial, career, and community wellbeing.

10 Proven Strategies to Attract and

Retain Top Talent

Many employees lack connection with their organizations, leading to turnover and decreased productivity. Businesses of all sizes struggle with labour shortages and retaining top talent.

SEB Admin Achieves ISO 27001 Audit

In 2021, SEB Administrative Services Inc. started its journey to become ISO 27001:2013 certified for its Information Security Management System (“ISMS“). On January 7^th, 2022, after an 18-month rigorous process, SEB Admin officially earned this certification.

Better Culture means Better Engagement, Reduced Burnout: Report

A recent report reveals that the majority of employers are missing out on the significant impact of recognition programs in shaping workplace culture, with only 34% of respondents reporting having a recognition program. Investing in workplace culture is crucial for employee satisfaction, engagement, and the long-term success of businesses.

Why Offering Benefits is a Game Changer for SMEs?

In today's highly competitive job market, SMEs are constantly striving to attract and retain top talent. One proven and effective approach that benefits advisors highly recommend is the provision of comprehensive employee benefits packages.

Men’s Health and Prostate Cancer

According to published studies in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, up to 75% of prostate cancer can be prevented through prudent dietary and lifestyle strategies. Yet prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in Canada.

In addition to regular PSA blood tests, studies have shown that dietary and lifestyle strategies can reduce prostate cancer risk and improve outcomes for patients undergoing medical treatment. In this short video, Dr. James Meschino DC, MS, ROHP (antiaging/longevity medicine expert) provides more insights on this topic and recommended solutions.

Watch Video Here

Canadian Employers Say Competing for Talent, Rising Mental-Health Issues Impacting Benefits Strategy: Survey

Canadian employers prioritize competition for talent, mental health concerns, and inclusion and diversity in their benefits strategies, aiming to improve financial well-being, retirement plans, and environmental, social, and governance responsibility.

Web Application Firewall (WAF) Deployed for SEB’s FlexPlus Applications

Hosting modern applications in cloud environments has become the standard these days, with many advantages including automatic backups and protection from data loss. However, these complex application deployments can be more difficult to protect against a constant and rapidly evolving threat landscape. SEB recently deployed a WAF to prevent successful attacks on web applications. WAF is different than traditional firewalls used in the corporate environment, as it provides more granular control of the traffic entering and exiting the web services, and will provide our clients with greater security in all of our services at SEB.

In January 2022, SEB achieved ISO 27001 certification for Information and Security Management. At SEB, data and system security is a continuous effort and our top priority.

Supporting Employees with Special Needs Kids

Parents of children with special needs face unique challenges, requiring more time for appointments and providing extra support at home. The financial burden of specialist fees and lost wages due to increased caregiving responsibilities can be significant. Additionally, these parents experience higher levels of stress, impacting their productivity at work. Employers can offer crucial support to these caregivers and their families, benefiting both the individual and the organization.

Celebrating Customer Service Excellence

SEB celebrated its outstanding call centre team through a full week of events, activities, and informative sessions. Check out the post below!