As Deloitte makes headlines for reimbursing Lego sets, Canadian experts urge HR to go deeper than perks and address root causes of stress
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Deloitte's U.S. employees can now claim up to $1,000 in wellbeing expenses annually, including Lego sets. The updated policy allows for reimbursement of purchases ranging from puzzles to kitchenware, as well as fitness classes and ergonomic furniture, according to Business Insider.
While some employees reacted with excitement, the policy has sparked online debate about whether these gestures go far enough to address real sources of workplace stress.
So, do alternative benefits like Lego truly bolster employee wellbeing?
"People want to be able to optimize their health and their well being in ways that are very individualized,” says Jennifer Dimoff, professor of workplace mental health and wellness at the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Business.
“For some people, that might mean being able to buy mindfulness apps or being able to buy Lego or to participate in a yoga retreat for a weekend, and be able to claim that in the same way that one might claim a visit with a psychologist."
Deloitte Canada's employee benefits page on its website lists $1,300 in yearly “flex dollars” for “health care premium costs, RRSP contributions, and/or wellness-related activities, which cover everything from house cleaning to yoga classes and green living solutions.”
Dimoff...
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