The recent conclusion of the annual Benefits Together Conferences, hosted by Medavie Blue Cross, marked another successful gathering of experts committed to fostering a healthier workforce across Canada.
Held in Halifax, Toronto, and Montreal, the event attracted a diverse group of speakers, clients, advisors, and employees eager to exchange innovative ideas and best practices for promoting employee well-being.
During the conferences, a wide range of topics were discussed, with a significant focus on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on healthcare and insurance. A key panel highlighted AI’s potential to alleviate pressures on the overstretched healthcare system, enhance efficiencies, and improve experiences for group benefit plan members. The panelists also emphasized the critical balance between harnessing technological opportunities and ensuring data security and privacy.
Another pivotal session addressed the critical role of sleep in maintaining employees’ health and performance. Experts Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe and Nathalie Lacombe explored how various factors, including stress, chronic conditions, and menopause symptoms, affect sleep quality. They stressed that adequate sleep is essential for the well-being and productivity of the workforce, noting the importance of employer support in facilitating necessary rest and recovery.
The conference also tackled the issue of workplace stress and burnout. With work-life stress reaching peak levels, resilience experts shared strategies for employers to support the physical and mental health of their teams effectively. Practical steps were introduced to empower employees to manage their health proactively and build resilience.
Bernard Lord, CEO of Medavie, reflected on the conference’s achievements, stating, “Our conference series was rich in information. From our panel on AI and our informed discussion on sleep to our closing presentation on employee resilience, we focus on the changing environment in which we all live and work to ensure a healthy and resilient workforce.”
Angela Johnson, CEO and Co-Founder of sanoLiving, emphasized the need for transparency in leveraging AI to address the historically overlooked health needs of women, particularly in areas like menopause, which receives minimal attention in medical research.
Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe highlighted the long-term health risks of sleep deprivation and the simple yet effective measures one can take to enhance sleep quality. Nathalie Lacombe added, “Now that we’re aware of the real impact of sleep on our health, we’re more interested than ever in optimizing it.”
Participants left the conference equipped with tools and strategies to enhance health and resilience in the workplace.