New name, same support: Introducing the Life & Disability department!

You may have noticed our department’s new name – we’ve updated from Work & Wellness to Life & Disability. But rest assured, there’s no change to the services we provide or the processes you rely on. The new name simply reflects the full scope of our work more accurately. 

Work is an key social determinant of health and wellness. It influences our physical and mental well-being, as well as our risk of illness. Beyond financial stability (which is more important than ever in today’s economy), meaningful work can offer purpose, identity, self-esteem and social connection. 

Going beyond the importance of a paycheque, at its best, work can be a foundation for and a source of wellness, especially when balanced with practices like taking movement snacks throughout the day. That said, we recognize that every person and every job is different. For some, work can be a source of stress or even harm. In general, we believe that meaningful work is where our talents are used for good, where we have a chance to grow, where we feel accepted, and where we are connected to a greater purpose. This can be a protective and empowering force for our health.

All of us in the Life & Disability department are grateful for the work we do and the opportunity to support you and your members – whether it’s navigating a loss, returning to work, or rebuilding wellness. While our name may have changed, our commitment has not. Work and wellness remain at the heart of everything we do. 

If you have any questions about our department or its functions, please email us at lifeanddisability@pac.bluecross.ca. 

Healthy eating, thriving workplace

Most people understand that a healthy diet is key to a long and healthy life. A balanced diet (as described by Canada’s food guide) supports weight management, improves digestion and reduces the risk of chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure.

But food doesn’t just affect our physical health – it also plays a key role in mental wellbeing. Nutrition can significantly impact focus, problem solving, mood, productivity and even absenteeism. Eating habits that overload on processed foods high in salt or sugar can negatively affect both employee wellbeing and consequently, business outcomes.

Although the effects of diet are widely recognized, 71% of Canadians say their eating habits could use improvement, and only 21.6% of adults report they consume five or more fruits and vegetables per day.

Small changes can lead to big improvements in health and wellbeing. Employers can play a key role in supporting these positive changes by:

• Providing nutritious options: Offer healthy foods and beverages in the workplace, like fruit, vegetables and sugar-free drinks.
• Promoting nutrition education: Host wellness sessions through our partnership with Homewood Health. For more information, contact healthandwellness@pac.bluecross.ca.To book a session directly, reach out to wellnessrequest@homewoodhealth.com.
• Partnering with meal-prep services: Collaborate with local healthy meal-prep or delivery services to offer employee discounts.
• Encouraging regular meal breaks: Inspire employees to take their time with meals and avoid reinforcing the culture of skipping lunch or working through breaks.
• Organizing health challenges: Introduce fun, engaging health challenges like going meatless on Mondays, only drinking water instead of sugary drinks, and eating a variety of naturally coloured foods.

Canada’s Food Guide has helpful tips on how to improve eating habits.

Mental health matters: the employer’s role

Mental health challenges remain a leading cause of work absences, with stress, anxiety, depression and burnout being the most common contributing factors. A recent Canadian survey found that 38 per cent of respondents had taken time off work for mental health reasons in the last five years. Of those, 80% cited job demands and their work environment as primary causes. 

Given that most employed Canadians spend nearly half their waking hours at work, the workplace environment, including leadership, has a profound impact on employee mental wellbeing.

What can employers do to support their team:

• Empower managers: Managers play a key role in either alleviating or increasing employee stress. It’s essential that they’re equipped to recognize and address mental health concerns in a timely and appropriate way.
• Foster open dialogue: Normalize open conversations about mental health to help reduce stigma and encourage employees to seek support when needed.
• Offer flexible work options: Support work-life balance through flexible schedules, remote or hybrid work arrangements and adaptable hours.
• Promote mental health benefits: Ensure employees are aware of the mental health supports available through their extended health care plan or Employee and Family Assistance Plan. If no benefits are offered, consider introducing mental health coverage. If benefits are offered to employees, explore opportunities to expand access, such as increasing the number of covered sessions. Please reach out to your Account Executive to learn more.
• Listen and measure: Conduct regular pulse surveys and mental health assessments to better understand employee needs. Track progress using key wellbeing metrics such as absenteeism and turnover rates.

A supportive workplace culture that prioritizes mental health and safety helps employees to feel and perform at their best, leading to increased job satisfaction, lower absenteeism and improved productivity.

We’re here to help guide the conversation. Contact HealthAndWellness@pac.bluecross.ca for information on Mental Health First Aid training, and access our mental health basics for people leaders webinar.

Short term absence? No sick note needed!

Did you know approximately 1.6 million sick notes were written by BC doctors in 2024? 

To help reduce the administrative burden on BC’s healthcare providers, the Employment Standards Act is being updated to remove the requirement of sick notes for short-term absences from work.

Currently, the act allows employers to request “reasonably sufficient proof” of illness, which may include a sick note. One of the proposed changes clarifies that employers cannot request – and employees are not required to provide – a sick note for a short-term absences.

New regulations will define what qualifies as a short-term absence and how frequently an employee can be absent before a sick note may be required. These changes are expected to take effect this fall.

Changes to the Attending Physician’s Statement

In the coming weeks, we will be updating the Attending Physician’s Statement (APS) required for all short- and long-term disability claims. The new APS required will be a standard form created by Canada Life & Health Insurance Association and is currently used by other major insurance providers. This change was made to reduce physician’s administrative workload through standardizing forms.

To ensure all claims are completed on the most current forms, please be sure to obtain all claim forms on ADMINnet, rather than saving them on your computer.

Meet a team leader, Grace N!

After finishing a two-year program in Business Administration, Grace applied for a temporary position in extended health benefits. Instead, she was offered a full-time role as a disability clerk in the Life and Disability department. Thirty-six years later, she’s still part of the same department, now serving as a Team Leader.

In her current role, Grace supervises administrative teams and identifies ways to streamline processes within the department. She enjoys the challenges that come with leadership and finds motivation in her work.

One of the key reasons Grace has remained in the Life and Disability department for so many years is the strong relationships she’s built with colleagues and supervisors. These connections have played a significant role in her personal and professional growth.

Outside of work, Grace’s life centres around her family and friends. She enjoys weekend getaways, Canucks games, and spending time with loved ones.