In order to support in-person collaboration while maintaining flexibility, Hootsuite Inc. is encouraging employees to reconnect with their co-workers through its new Perch Days program. “We started our distributed workforce strategy during [the coronavirus pandemic],” says Tara Ataya, the company’s chief people and diversity officer. “With this strategy, we have taken a test-and-iterate approach to […]
Novartis Canada is enticing employees to spend more time working onsite with the opening of its new Montreal office space. The health-care company brought its workplace culture to life and acknowledged employees’ personal lives by hosting an event that welcomed employees’ families and friends to the new office. “We recognize it’s because of their families and […]
While fixed income has long had the reputation of being the conservative and stable supporting partner in the traditional balanced portfolio, unbundling fixed income into its sub-components presents opportunities for enhanced risk-adjusted returns, said Aaron Young, vice-president and client portfolio manager at CIBC Asset Management. When investors buy the FTSE universe bond index or even […]
Fidelity Canada’s flexible return-to-office rollout landed the company a win in the Future of work strategy category at Benefits Canada’s 2023 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 20. In September 2022, the organization launched its future-of-work program, which classifies each employee’s role as either hybrid, remote or in person. Indeed, 87 per cent of roles at Fidelity are […]
In 2022, some of the top chronic conditions affecting group benefits plans were diabetes, obesity, depression and arthritis. Diabetes was the No. 1 ranked condition for drug claims in 2022, knocking rheumatoid arthritis down to the No. 2 spot, according to Telus Health’s annual drug plan trends report. And the 2023 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey […]
Amid a challenging labour market, Canadian employers say attraction (64 per cent) and retention (57 per cent) are the top challenges impacting total rewards decisions, according to a new survey by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. The survey, which polled more than 500 employers, found just a third (29 per cent) were concerned about benefits […]
When Jessica Charbonneau decided to have a child through assisted reproduction a few years ago, it wasn’t cheap, but her employer helped shoulder some of the costs. Charbonneau, a 36-year-old student affairs case manager at the University of Toronto’s Mississauga campus, started with intrauterine insemination, spending a total of $15,000 for six rounds. The university’s […]
Just five per cent of U.S. employers say they’re offering a four-day workweek as a flexible working arrangement for employees, according to a new survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans. The survey, which polled more than 300 employers, found one per cent said they’ve already formally implemented a four-day workweek or are piloting […]
Before the coronavirus pandemic, Jamie Burke was happy with her job. Working in property management, the extroverted Vancouverite went into the office every day, took meetings in different buildings and attended networking events. When the pandemic hit and her job became remote, Burke struggled at first but she grew to love the flexibility it afforded […]
With Canadians’ financial priorities shifting alongside a turbulent economic climate, including inflation levels not seen in decades and a never-ending rise in the cost of living, it isn’t surprising capital accumulation plan members’ commitment to retirement savings is taking a hit. Benefits Canada’s 2023 CAP Member Survey found just 41 per cent of respondents rated […]