Morneau Shepell's clients recognized by Benefits Canada as leaders in employee benefits

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2018 /CNW/ - Morneau Shepell is pleased to announce that two of its longstanding clients have been acknowledged by Benefits Canada at the 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards. This year, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) won in the absence management category and Staples Canada won in the mental health category.

"We are proud to see our clients' commitment to their employees by providing programs that support their well-being, as well as reducing absences, which improves a business's productivity," said Stephen Liptrap, president and chief executive officer, Morneau Shepell. "This dedication has been recognized through these prestigious awards. We are pleased to continue partnering with organizations that share our vision of optimizing the health and productivity of people around the world."

The 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards brought together more than 100 leaders in the benefits, pension and investment industry, to recognize employers making strides in employee benefits and well-being. In addition to absence management and mental health, award recipients were recognized for contributions to diversity programs, financial wellness, pension plan communications, industry leadership and more.

"Mental health has been an important pillar of our wellness strategy at Staples and we are very honoured to be recognized for this award," said Kate Tilsley, senior director, total rewards and human resources information systems, Staples Canada. "We are focusing on awareness, support and prevention in our strategy. To achieve our goals, we have implemented initiatives such as Morneau Shepell's employee and family assistance program, manager mental health training and are undertaking a pharmacogenetic testing pilot. We are proud that our programs are being recognized for making a positive impact."

"Absence management has always been a priority of ours, knowing the strong link between employee absence and declining productivity," said Tanya Hickey, senior manager, health and safety strategies, Ontario Power Generation. "In the last few years, we identified an opportunity to bring employees into the conversation and increase their awareness about effectively managing absences so that they get back to work faster and thereby improve productivity. It's amazing to see that the programs we have implemented to improve return-to-work processes and support for struggling employees, such as Morneau Shepell's DepressionCare, InfluenceCare and First Day, are being recognized with this award and we hope it inspires other organizations to follow a similar path."

Additionally the Town of Richmond Hill won the award for best health and wellness program for a company with less than 1,000 employees. Morneau Shepell's employee and family assistance program is offered as part of the Town of Richmond Hill's wellness and benefits programs.

All the award winners were acknowledged at a ceremony held by Benefits Canada on October 11, 2018 at the Arcadian Loft in Toronto. Morneau Shepell was the platinum sponsor of the awards.

About Morneau Shepell
Morneau Shepell is the only human resources consulting and technology company that takes an integrated approach to employee well-being, health, benefits and retirement needs. The Company is the largest administrator of retirement and benefits plans and the largest provider of integrated absence management solutions in Canada. LifeWorks by Morneau Shepell is a total well-being solution that combines employee assistance, wellness, recognition and incentive programs. As a leader in strategic HR consulting and innovative pension design, the Company also helps clients solve complex workforce problems and provides integrated productivity, health and retirement solutions. Established in 1966, Morneau Shepell serves approximately 24,000 clients, ranging from small businesses to some of the largest corporations and associations. With more than 4,500 employees in offices worldwide, Morneau Shepell provides services to organizations around the globe. Morneau Shepell is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.

SOURCE Morneau Shepell Inc.