As Canadian organizations continue to navigate evolving workforce expectations in the post-pandemic era, a new research initiative aims to capture how employee benefits strategies are transforming to meet the demands of today’s workers.
HR News Canada has partnered with Venngo to launch PerkShift: The Evolution of Employee Benefits, a comprehensive survey examining current trends and future directions in employee benefits and recognition programs.
The research project seeks to understand how organizations across Canada are adapting their benefits strategies, with particular focus on areas including flexible and personalized benefits packages, mental health and well-being support, work-life balance initiatives, and financial wellness programs.
“The benefits landscape has changed, and perhaps fundamentally,” said Todd Humber, publisher and editor-in-chief of HR News Canada. “What we’re seeing is a complete reimagining of the employee value proposition. Organizations that were offering the same cookie-cutter benefits package five years ago are now grappling with how to create truly personalized experiences that speak to individual employee needs. This research will help HR leaders understand not just what’s happening now, but where the industry is headed.”
Emerging benefit areas
The 30-question survey, which takes approximately five to seven minutes to complete, covers emerging areas such as “pawternity” leave for pet-related care, grandparent leave, and expanded bereavement policies, alongside traditional benefit categories. It also examines how organizations are measuring employee engagement with their benefits programs and communicating offerings to their workforce.
Sally Benn, SVP Group Customers at Venngo, emphasized the collaborative approach behind the research.
“At Venngo, we’re committed to helping organizations create more impactful and relevant employee experiences,” Benn said. “By partnering on this research, we hope to better understand how organizations are adapting their benefits strategies—including personalization, flexibility and overall wellbeing. Our goal is to help HR leaders stay ahead of the curve with insights that lead to more meaningful employee engagement.”
Feedback sought
The survey targets HR executives, managers, and specialists across all industries and organization sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. Participants range from C-suite leaders to front-line supervisors involved in benefits decision-making.
One area of particular focus is the growing emphasis on mental health support, with the survey examining everything from Employee Assistance Programs to dedicated mental health days and mindfulness workshops. The research also explores how organizations are implementing financial wellness programs, including retirement planning support, earned wage tools, and financial literacy seminars.
The timing of the research reflects broader workforce trends, as organizations continue to adapt to hybrid work models and evolving employee expectations around work-life balance. Recent studies have shown that benefits and compensation have become increasingly important factors in employee retention, with many workers willing to change jobs for better benefits packages.
All survey responses will remain confidential, with data reported only in aggregate form. Participants who provide their contact information will receive a copy of the final research results.
The survey is available online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/perkshift.
