Employee Benefits Are Changing: What HR Needs to Know Now

Unmuted Podcast | Episode #85

Topic: Employee Benefits Are Changing: What HR Needs to Know Now

Guest: Chris Gory - President & Benefits Consultant at Orchard Benefits

Guest LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisgory/

Guest Website: https://orchardbenefits.ca/

⁠Host: Jeff Waldman – Founder & HR Tech Evangelist at ScaleHR & SocialHRCamp

The Unmuted Podcast, hosted by Jeff Waldman, explores the topics shaping HR, talent, HR tech, leadership, and the future of work. In this episode, Jeff speaks with employee benefits expert Chris Gory about the major changes Canadian employers need to understand in benefits. The conversation focuses on Alberta’s Bill 11, which requires employers to keep employees aged 65 and older on health benefits coverage. Chris explains why the legislation affects companies across Canada with even one employee in Alberta, what HR leaders need to do, and why other provinces may eventually introduce similar changes.

Jeff and Chris also discuss the growing importance of mental health coverage, the rise of ADHD-related claims, changing workforce demographics, generic drugs, dental costs, and the importance of using employee claims data to design a benefits plan that meets the needs of the actual workforce.

Takeaways

• What Alberta’s Bill 11 means for employers across Canada
• Why employees aged 65 and older may need to be added back to benefits plans
• How mental health benefits have become table stakes
• The growing importance of covering a wider range of mental health practitioners
• Why ADHD claims are increasing, particularly among women aged 25 to 45
• How workforce demographics influence benefits usage
• Why generic drugs are helping moderate benefits costs
• The importance of using claims data to guide benefits strategy

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Unmuted Podcast 01:52 Employee Benefits Are Changing 04:16 Welcoming Chris Gory 06:20 Chris’s Background in Employee Benefits 08:04 Understanding Alberta’s Bill 11 10:08 Could Other Provinces Follow Alberta? 13:21 Why Mental Health Benefits Are Now Table Stakes 16:56 The Rise of ADHD Claims 19:13 Designing Benefits for a Diverse Workforce 20:03 How Workforce Demographics Affect Claims 21:33 Using Data to Build Better Benefits Plans 22:02 Why Benefits Costs Are Not Rising as Expected 23:04 Generic Drugs and Dental Cost Trends 24:27 Key Takeaways for HR Leaders 25:45 Closing the Episode

About Chris Gory

Chris Gory is an employee benefits expert with more than 35 years of experience in insurance and benefits. Since 2004, he has specialized in working with startups and growing companies, including technology organizations across Canada. Chris works with Orchard Benefits and advises companies on building effective, competitive, and data-informed employee benefits programs.

Connect with Orchard Benefits: https://orchardbenefits.ca/

About ScaleHR

The Unmuted Podcast is powered by ScaleHR (https://goscalehr.com/), helping emerging HR, Recruitment, and Work Tech companies accelerate brand awareness and lead generation through Catalyst, our community-driven content and omnichannel marketing solution.

Learn more: https://www.goscalehr.com/

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