Alongside the return of the live, in-person Healthy Outcomes Conference on Oct. 18, Benefits Canada announced the winners of the 2022 Workplace Benefits Awards. During the full-day conference in Toronto, 26 finalists gathered to learn about the big topics around employee health and well-being, with winner announcements across 11 categories announced throughout the day. All […]
As a fresh-faced elementary school student in 1977, Aaron Bennett wasn’t quite in the target demographic for the freshly launched Benefits Canada magazine. Still, Bennett — now the chief investment officer at Ontario’s University Pension Plan — has a pretty firm grasp on the concerns that would have occupied the minds of his predecessors as […]
While Canada’s pension system continues to rank well globally, the current economic environment poses particular risks for defined contribution pension plan sponsors and members, according to a new report by the CFA Institute and Mercer. “As DC pension plans continue to make up a greater part of Canadians’ retirement, turbulent markets, soaring inflation and a […]
The average Canadian defined benefit pension plan’s projected benefit obligation fell 3.4 per cent during the third quarter of 2022, from 100.5 per cent to 97.2 per cent, and considerably faster than asset values, according to Aon’s latest pension risk tracker. While market volatility led to asset values decreasing by 0.1 per cent in the […]
Walmart Inc. is teaming up with a fertility startup to offer benefits under its insurance plan that will help its U.S. workers expand their families. The retail giant is partnering with New York-based Kindbody to offer benefits such as in-vitro fertilization, as well as fertility testing regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or marital […]
As Canadian employers deepen their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to increase the representation of historically underrepresented groups among their workforces, they’re also focusing on attracting, retaining and engaging that talent. These initiatives include placing a greater emphasis on healthy and psychologically safe workplaces and revamping benefits plans to meet a wider range of employee […]
The modern economy is highly uncertain, with inflation and rising interest rates cutting into bottom lines everywhere. Employers are nervous as the cost of capital and the cost of their inputs seems to rise every day. But employees are nervous, too. And since no one knows when inflation will end, it’s difficult for anyone to […]
Benefits Canada is pleased to announce the finalists of the 2022 Workplace Benefits Awards. This year’s awards program welcomed 115 entries across 11 categories, all highlighting how Canada’s leading employers are supporting their employees’ physical, mental and financial well-being. The winners will be announced on Tues., Oct. 18 in Toronto at the 2022 Healthy Outcomes Conference, an in-person event intended for employers […]
U.S. employers are anticipating health benefits costs will rise by an average of 5.6 per cent per employee in 2023, according to early results from a survey by Mercer. The survey, which polled more than 850 U.S. employers, found if respondents made no changes to their benefits plans, the cost for the largest plans would rise […]
Nearly a third (30 per cent) of insurers are making changes to ensure there’s diversity among the medical providers within their networks, according to a new report by Mercer. The report found more than a quarter (27 per cent) of insurers said they’ve changed their eligibility access processes to make coverage more inclusive for LGBTQ2S+ […]