While the majority of employers provide an employee assistance program to employees, very few believe their company’s senior leadership demonstrates a commitment to mental health, according to a new survey by CivicAction. The not-for-profit organization surveyed employers that are using its MindsMatter online assessment, which provides actions and resources to help organizations better support their employees’ mental health. Since […]
Ontario’s pension regulator is seeking the windup of the Sears Canada Inc. pension plan as the company continues the liquidation process. On Nov. 10, the superintendent issued a notice to the plan administrator and Sears informing them of the intent to wind up the pension plan as of Oct. 1, 2017. The parties can request a […]
Defined benefit pension plans have long included formulas for integrating the Canada Pension Plan into their contributions and benefits design. But with CPP contributions set to rise in 2019, the question of integration will be a consideration for the sponsors of defined contribution pension plans as well. CPP integration isn’t a particularly common feature of […]
Many psychologists are unhappy with employee assistance programs in Quebec, according to a new survey by the Quebec psychologists association. The survey by l’association des psychologues du Québec, which polled more than 500 psychologists in the province, found many respondents believe conditions have “seriously deteriorated” over the past few years. In particular, respondents were critical of low fees, failure to […]
Representative counsel for Sears Canada Inc.’s retirees has sent a letter to the monitor, FTI Consulting Inc., and all parties involved in the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act proceedings asserting their first priority claim against the company’s estate on behalf of pension members. In the letter sent recently, Andrew Hatnay, a partner at Koskie Minsky LLP, wrote that […]
While mental health is often a sensitive area, the Co-operators Group Ltd. aimed to bring the issue into the open by introducing an online Yammer group as a safe place for employees to talk, share information and support one another. “It’s a way for us to have those organic conversations crop up from our staff,” said Stacey Kennedy, […]
Benefits Canada honoured seven winners of the 2017 Workplace Benefits Awards at an event in Toronto on Thursday. In a room at the Arcadian Court, 75 leaders in the benefits, pension and investment industry gathered to see awards presented across seven different categories. The winning employers are examples of the excellent work underway to improve employee’s physical, mental […]
BestLifeRewarded Innovations Inc. has launched a research project aimed at demonstrating how small changes in behaviour could make a significant difference in both employee health and its economic burden on employers. The project focuses on five modifiable risk factors: physical inactivity, smoking, excess weight, use of alcohol and low vegetable and fruit consumption. A one […]
In the past, quotes for psychology services in an employee benefits plan were nominal, especially compared to other paramedical benefits, such as massage therapy. However, we’re now taking pause and reconsidering all new data, which suggests millennials have a propensity to make full use of the mental-health resources available to them. Consider that over the […]
As the defined contribution pension industry continues to mature, employers are considering ways to improve them by introducing elements of defined benefit plans, an industry expert told an event on Wednesday. In fact, plan sponsors are looking at how they can provide for the “DBification” of defined contribution plans, said Idan Shlesinger, managing partner at […]