Small Business Month

3 S M A L L B U S I N E S S M O N T H - S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E W I N N I P E G F R E E P R E S S - S A T U R D A Y , O C T O B E R 1 9 , 2 0 1 9 Based in Winnipeg, Johnston Group is dedicated to enriching the community, contributing significantly to our local youth programs, health, arts, sports, and many other organizations. We're very proud to also support Manitoba's small business community. The employee benefits of tomorrow, today. johnstongroup.ca Proudly administered by Chambers Plan is the only provider in Canada to offer Teladoc® telemedicine services, and at no additional charge. Chambers Plan provides employee benefit solutions to 30,000 businesses in Canada. Get the plan that adapts with you. Visit chamberplan.ca Real benefits for your business. CHAMBERS PLAN FIRST TO OFFER TELADOC ® TELEMEDICINE SERVICES IN CANADA While the quality of Canadian health care is widely regarded as among the best in the world, accessing care in a timely man- ner is a challenge for many Canadians. In a recent survey, 57% of Canadians reported they could not secure an appointment with their family doctor within 48 hours, and 76% of Canadians found it difficult to secure care during evenings, weekends and holidays. Not only is this adding strain to our health-care system, leading to exceedingly long wait times in walk-in clinics and patients progressively seeking non-urgent care in emergency rooms, but it also contributes to increased absenteeism in the workplace. Chambers Plan, administered by Johnston Group, has recently partnered with Teladoc Health™, the global leader in virtual care who provides convenient access to high-quality health care for millions of people in more than 130 countries. In September, Chambers Plan became the first benefits plan provider in Canada to offer Teladoc® telemedicine service. It is included, at no additional charge, to all members who hold a Chambers Plan Health option. Members have 24/7 access to Teladoc, within one hour by phone or app, from anywhere in Canada and while travelling in the United States. Members can consult with a doctor about non-urgent medical matters and can receive a diagnosis, treatment recommendation, and can even be prescribed medicine when necessary. Every doctor is certified by the Canadian College of Family physicians to ensure the highest standards of quality. A comprehensive virtual care solution can help employers reduce absenteeism and increase productivity while providing employees with convenient access to quality health care. And now, with Chambers Plan, that's an option any business can provide, regardless of size. A n entrepreneur has a thousand things on their mind at any given moment, but the ability to provide competitive group benefits for their employees shouldn't be one of them. Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan, administered by Johnston Group, was started with small business in mind. "I love how Chambers Plan got started, because it got started for the right reasons. Way back when, over 45 years ago, small businesses had a struggle to get group benefits, and so this organization started around that premise. How can we get big business and large group benefits into the hands of small entrepreneurs in Canada? How can we pool those entrepreneurs and their needs together so that they can help each other afford great group benefits for their employees, which is what they deserve," says Dave Angus, president of Johnston Group. Over 45 years later, Chambers Plan continues to innovate, with the entrepreneur in mind. While employees may only see an employee benefit plan as a vehicle to cover costs related to health and well- being, Chambers Plan comes packed with additional tools and resources designed to look after the business' health, as well. For instance, included with every Chambers Plan program, at no additional charge, is the Business Assistance Service (BAS). It comes loaded with templates and resources to give business owners essential tools that help them remain consistent and compliant in people management and self- management. Owners and managers are given unlimited phone access to professional HR, accounting and legal experts for advice on routine situations, and up to nine hours per year of direction for more complex issues. In addition, BAS includes employee counselling referrals, which enables owners to refer employees dealing with personal situations that are affecting performance. On top of the traditional plan design, Chambers Plan also includes benefits designed for the employees' total health. Every Chambers Plan program includes Best Doctors ® , which provides expert medical opinions on health conditions and treatment plans, along with medical advice and guidance to employees and their doctors. Best Doctors can also be used for an employee's immediate family members. Dave Angus remarks, "At Johnston Group, it isn't just about being trendy with technology, it's about how to provide better and increasing value to our customers." This is why on Sept. 1, 2019, Chambers Plan introduced telemedicine to every Chambers Plan Health option. Partnering with the global leader in virtual care, Chambers Plan is the first benefits provider in Canada to bring Teladoc ® to its members, at no additional cost to them. Chambers Plan can clearly accommodate the benefit needs of any size of business, but has stayed true to the roots of the Plan. That's why they continue to focus on the entrepreneur, and have even added guaranteed issue options for businesses with as few as one or two employees. Dave Angus explains, "When you hire people, and you have staff, one of the things that's constantly on your mind is how to look after them… If you are a one- or two-person group, having any certainty around your ability to access group benefits can relieve a lot of stress. So, if we can make it much easier to access the resources required, then that's part of our responsibility as a company." ❚ An entrepreneur has a thousand things on their mind at any given moment, but the ability to provide competitive group benefits for their employees shouldn't be one of them. CHAMBERS PLAN REAL BENEFITS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

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