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Editorial: Viewing pensions, benefits through a DEI lens

While the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on public health and the global economy dominated the news cycle in recent years, there has been no shortage of…

Head to head: Are employers effectively using monthly awareness campaigns to support year-round DEI efforts?

One consultant says these campaigns are informing employers’ strategic decision-making, while another stresses the importance of ensuring employees understand the reason for marking these occasions.…

How BNP Paribas’ DEI strategy is attracting, supporting diverse talent

While employers in the financial services industry have made some progress in attracting diverse talent across the traditionally male-dominated sector, there’s still a long way…

A look at what’s next for inclusive employee benefits

When looking at the future of inclusive benefits, it’s important for employers to take a holistic approach and ensure their benefits plans offer something for…

How the investment strategies of the Maple 8 impact the decisions of medium- and small-sized plan sponsors

While many of the investment strategies and resources at the disposal of the Maple 8 — Canada’s eight largest public pension plans that represent more…

2024 Top 100 Pension Funds report: Employees’ financial wellness moving up the agenda for pension plan sponsors

When Phillip Kotanidis took over as chief human resources officer at Toronto’s Michael Garron Hospital in 2018, the financial well-being of staff wasn’t exactly high…

B.C.’s Municipal Pension Plan focusing on sustainable investments

Chelsea Kittleson joined British Columbia’s Municipal Pension Plan at a time of change for the investment organization. The MPP’s executive director, who joined the plan…

How employers can support neurodiverse employees

Based on multiple studies, it’s estimated that roughly 15 to 20 per cent of the global population is neurodivergent, an umbrella term that includes autism,…

Q&A with the UPP’s Omo Akintan

The University Pension Plan’s chief people officer discusses expanding the talent pool, providing access to personalized and culturally relevant mental-health practitioners and finding time to…

Editorial: What a difference four years makes

Four years ago, as the coronavirus pandemic entered its third month, I unknowingly — and unwittingly — took my first steps towards a new chapter…

Head to head: Should employers implement location-based pay for remote workers?

A consultant says location is one of many factors determining pay, while a human resources specialist argues it shouldn’t be a consideration. Cissy Pau, principal…

A deep dive into health-care navigation guides

With employees often struggling to find benefits offerings related to mental-health support or chronic conditions, demand for health-care system navigation services has increased significantly in…

2024 Top 40 Money Managers Report: How pension plan sponsors are using the latest technology to maintain cybersecurity

In the fight against cybercriminals, institutional investors and other financial organizations are managing cybersecurity just as seriously as any other type of business risk, with…

Independent Electricity System Operator using diversification to beat volatility

The Independent Electricity System Operator’s pension plan is in the midst of a comeback from a period of heightened post-coronavirus pandemic volatility, with diversification as…

Q&A with the Royal Bank of Canada’s Jamie Abbott

The RBC’s senior director of North American benefits and global well-being discusses building flexibility into the modern benefits plan, harnessing AI capabilities in the banking…

Editorial: Turning challenge into opportunity

As I write this column, I’m reflecting on the spectrum of weather I’ve witnessed this past winter. From my office window in southwestern Ontario, I…

Head to Head: Is it time to change the terminology around ESG?

An academic says environmental, social and governance terminology should evolve alongside understanding of the concept, while a consultant favours a focus on substance over form.…

How the WSIB is supporting employee well-being with enhanced, unlimited mental-health coverage

While the coronavirus pandemic may be in the rearview mirror for most employers, the Ontario-based Workplace Safety and Insurance Board knows all too well that…

2024 Group Benefits Providers Report: Leveraging AI to streamline benefits

While there’s multiple opportunities for the use of artificial intelligence in the employee benefits space — including making the claims process more efficient and personalizing…

How will growing anti-ESG sentiment in the U.S. impact Canadian institutional investors?

A growing wave of opposition to environmental, social and governance factors has turned life in the sustainable finance industry into something of a roller coaster…

How CAAT is supporting its ESG aspirations through responsible investments, team-building

As an institutional investor, Asif Haque knows the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Pension Plan has a responsibility to meet the rising challenge of…

How climate change is impacting benefits, employee health

During Canada’s unprecedented 2023 wildfire season, 6,500 individual fires burned more than 18.4 million hectares of land — and wildland firefighters bore the brunt of…

Back to basics on investment glide paths

Simply put, a glide path is a calculation designed to support an employee’s desired retirement timeline through investments in a target-date fund. When an employee…

Q&A with BMO Financial Group’s Vanessa Lewerentz

The organization’s chief inclusion officer discusses building an inclusive learning roadmap, the adoption of AI in the HR space and finding ways to nourish her…