The Vita Talks HR and Benefits Podcast

Aging Workforce, Evolving Law: What Employers Need to Know About Employee Benefits After 65

Happy New Year to our Vita Talks Listeners. Starting 2026 off with our first episode, host Gianna Ricciardi sits down with Cristelle Sary, lawyer and managing partner at Messier Sary & Consultants. With over 15 years of experience in pension, benefits, and employment law, and registration with both the Quebec and Ontario bars, Cristelle brings a legal lens to one of the fastest-growing realities in today's workforce: employees working past age 65. Cristelle explains how longer life expectancy, financial pressure, and shifting retirement norms are colliding with benefit and pension systems that were designed decades ago. Drawing from recent case law, she highlights where employers may face legal risk, where flexibility is possible, and why age-based employee benefit cutoffs are being increasingly scrutinized. Who Should Listen? * Employers & Business Leaders managing employees who work past age 65 * HR & Benefits Professionals navigating age-related plan design and compliance * Pension & Benefits Advisors supporting aging or multigenerational workforces * Legal & Policy-Minded Professionals interested in employment, benefits, and human rights law Mentioned Links: Cristelle's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristelle-sary-7192b1102/?originalSubdomain=ca] https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristelle-sary-7192b1102/?originalSubdomain=ca [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristelle-sary-7192b1102/?originalSubdomain=ca] Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast [https://www.vitaassure.com/podcast/] | https://www.vitaassure.com/podcast/ [https://www.vitaassure.com/podcast/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/vita-assure/] | https://www.linkedin.com/company/vita-assure/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/vita-assure/] Website [https://www.vitaassure.com/] | https://www.vitaassure.com/ [https://www.vitaassure.com/] Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡 Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness

Building a Virtual Back Office: How Beyond Landscaping Solved the Talent Crunch with Cory Brewer

In this episode of Vita Talks, host Gianna Ricciardi sits down with Cory Brewer, Founder of Beyond Landscaping and Co-Founder of Market Hill Agency. Cory shares how he grew his North Vancouver landscaping company while tackling one of today's biggest business challenges: finding and keeping strong people. He discusses the turning point that led him to rethink how his office operated, ultimately building a fully virtual back-office team overseas. Cory also opens up about how Beyond Landscaping keeps field staff engaged through culture, year-round work opportunities, and better structure. His experience eventually inspired a second business supporting entrepreneurs with trained remote executive assistants. Whether you manage field teams, hybrid teams, or a growing small business, this episode offers practical ideas for building a more resilient and efficient workforce—without giving everything away. Who Should Listen? * Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners – especially in trades, construction, or services, struggling with hiring and retention. * Operations & HR Leaders – looking for real-world examples of hybrid teams (field + fully remote office) that actually work. * People Managers in High-Turnover Industries – interested in building a stronger culture and engagement with frontline teams. * Founders Feeling Overworked – who want to understand how remote executive assistants can help them reclaim time and focus. Mentioned Links: * Connect with Cory on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corybrewer/?originalSubdomain=ca] https://www.linkedin.com/in/corybrewer/?originalSubdomain=ca [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corybrewer/?originalSubdomain=ca] * Connect with Cory on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/corybrew/?hl=en] https://www.instagram.com/corybrew/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/corybrew/?hl=en] Stay Connected to Vita Assure; Insurance and Workplace Benefits * Vita Talks Podcast [https://www.vitaassure.com/podcast/] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/vita-assure/] * Website [https://www.vitaassure.com/] Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡 Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🔔 Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness

Innovative Employee Perks: Integrating Bitcoin into Workplace Savings Plans with Scott Dedels

In this episode, Gianna sits down with Scott Dedels, Co-CEO of Block Rewards, to explore how Canadian employers are incorporating Bitcoin into compensation and benefits programs. Scott shares how Block Rewards helps organizations diversify their savings offerings by giving employees the option to invest in Bitcoin alongside traditional group RRSPs. He discusses the evolution of Bitcoin sentiment in the workplace, how one Alberta-based green energy company saw extraordinary returns, and why this new approach appeals to today's multigenerational workforce. Whether you're curious about digital assets, employee benefits innovation [https://vitaassure.com/], or the future of workplace compensation, this conversation offers valuable insight into a fast-evolving space. Who Should Listen? * Benefits Advisors & Brokers – looking to bring fresh, modern options to employer benefit portfolios. * HR Leaders & Business Owners – curious about integrating Bitcoin or alternative assets into compensation packages. * Finance & Payroll Professionals – interested in understanding how Bitcoin savings programs function alongside traditional group RRSPs. * Forward-Thinking Employers – eager to attract and retain talent through innovative, tech-forward employee perks. Mentioned Links: * Scott Dedels LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottdedels/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottdedels/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottdedels/] * Block Rewards Website [https://blockrewards.ca/] https://blockrewards.ca/ [https://blockrewards.ca/] Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits * Vita Talks Podcast [https://www.vitaassure.com/podcast/] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/vita-assure/] * Group Employee Benefits [https://www.vitaassure.com/] Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡 Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness

Mental Health Conversations at Work: Tools, Training & Role-Based Strategies with My-Linh Diep

In this episode of Vita Talks, host Gianna Ricciardi is joined by My-Linh Diep, founder of Sante Continuum and a recognized facilitator with the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Together, they explore how one large, unionized organization moved beyond surface-level mental health initiatives by implementing a structured, layered training strategy that resonated with executives, managers, and team leads alike. Through a compelling case study, My-Linh reveals how tailored training—focused on early warning signs, communication skills, and referral support—can equip leaders with the confidence to address mental health challenges effectively, without overstepping professional boundaries. This episode offers actionable insights for businesses of all sizes on how to: * Make mental health training practical and role-specific * Create psychological safety through structured yet authentic conversations * Understand the ROI of a workplace mental health strategy * Leverage community resources and low-lift tools—even in smaller teams Whether you're a leader, HR professional, or business owner, this conversation is a must-listen for building healthier, more connected teams. 🎧 Who Should Listen? * HR professionals looking to design or refresh mental health training * Business owners and executives committed to building psychologically safe workplaces * Managers and team leads who want to better support employee well-being * Learning and development teams focused on human-centred leadership * Small businesses seeking practical ways to support staff mental health without large budgets 🔗 Mentioned Links: * My-Linh Diep | LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/my-linh-diep-61b15717/?originalSubdomain=ca] https://www.linkedin.com/in/my-linh-diep-61b15717/?originalSubdomain=ca [https://www.linkedin.com/in/my-linh-diep-61b15717/?originalSubdomain=ca] * Website [https://santecontinuum.com/] https://santecontinuum.com/ [https://santecontinuum.com/] Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits * Vita Talks Podcast [https://www.vitaassure.com/podcast/] https://www.vitaassure.com/podcast/ [https://www.vitaassure.com/podcast/] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/vita-assure/] https://www.linkedin.com/company/vita-assure/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/vita-assure/] * Group Employee Benefits [https://www.vitaassure.com] https://www.vitaassure.com/ [https://www.vitaassure.com/] Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡 Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness

Beyond Buzzwords: Embedding Company Culture into Scalable Growth Strategies with Rita De Luca

In Episode 15 of Vita Talks, host Gianna Ricciardi is joined by Rita De Luca, Partner and Senior HR Consultant at DRH Solutions, to explore the foundational role company values play in building scalable, high-performing organizations. Rita shares a compelling case study of a 1,000-person company that, despite its size, lacked clarity and consistency—resulting in disengagement, poor accountability, and internal conflict. Her discovery? The root of the problem was a lack of clearly defined organizational values. In this conversation, Rita outlines how values aren't just words on a wall. When defined with intention and embedded across hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, and leadership [https://www.vitaassure.com/blog/tag/hr/], they become the operating system of a company's culture—a concept she calls "The Legacy Effect." This episode is essential listening for founders, people leaders, and HR teams looking to build resilient cultures, especially in fast-growing or scaling environments. 💡 Key takeaways: * How values influence behaviour and accountability * Case study: Fixing disengagement with a values-first approach * Embedding values into recruitment and performance * The role of managers in modelling values * What "The Legacy Effect" means in HR strategy 🎧 Who Should Listen? * Founders and business owners scaling their teams and looking to build a strong, sustainable culture * HR professionals and consultants tasked with implementing or refreshing company values * People leaders and managers aiming to align behaviour, performance, and culture across departments * Recruiters and talent acquisition teams interested in hiring for cultural fit, not just skill * Organizations struggling with engagement, accountability, or internal conflict and seeking a foundational reset 🔗 Mentioned Links: * Rita De Luca | LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-de-luca-ba-crha-966883b/] * DRH Solutions [https://drhsolutions.ca/] Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits * Vita Talks Podcast [https://www.vitaassure.com/podcast/] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/vita-assure/] * Website - Group Benefits for Employees [https://www.vitaassure.com/] Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡 Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness