In the midst of historically high inflation and ahead of a possible recession, it’s important for employers to offer benefits like financial counselling and flexible spending accounts to support employees’ financial and mental well-being. Mercer Canada predicts a 40 per cent chance of heading into a recession, according to feedback from investment managers and relevant data. […]
While the latest stage of the coronavirus pandemic is heralding a gradual return to relative calm, plan sponsors are stepping out of the frying pan and into the fire. The pandemic accelerated the ongoing evolution in the relationship between plan sponsors and plan members, with employees now looking to their employers to help them manage […]
An open dialogue about diversity, equity and inclusion is vital for raising the resilience and overall wealth of pension plan members, said Ryan Weiss, vice-president of group customer national accounts at Canada Life, during a session at Benefits Canada‘s 2022 DC Plan Summit. Also speaking during the session, Elisha Ribeiro, the insurer’s national sales director […]
New Brunswick is amending its Pension Benefits Act to allow for enhanced communications with plan members, exempt compulsory membership for religious beliefs and allow for reserve accounts and the statutory discharge of annuity buyouts. The amendments will also provide the Financial and Consumer Services Commission with the authority to address overpayment errors and grant rule-making, according to […]
While more than a third of disability claims under Canadian employer-sponsored benefits plans in 2022 were due to mental-health reasons, just two-thirds (63 per cent) of organizations are addressing this risk effectively, according to a new survey by Mercer. The survey, which polled more than 100 organizations globally, found more than half (55 per cent) […]
OVERVIEW AGENDA SPEAKERS ACTIVITIES LOCATION POST EVENT COVERAGE Speaker Karen Lockridge, director, ESG investing, Canada Post Corporation Pension Plan Karen Lockridge is the director of ESG investing at Canada Post Corporation Pension Plan, one of Canada’s largest single employer-sponsored pension plans, with $30 billion in assets under management. She is responsible for developing and implementing […]
More than two-thirds (70 per cent) of large U.S. employers are planning to beef up their benefits plans in 2023 to enhance their attraction and retention efforts, according to a new survey by Mercer. The survey, which polled more than 700 employers, found a third (32 per cent) of large employers already offer inclusive family-building […]
Despite year-to-date asset losses and historically high levels of inflation, most Canadian defined benefit pension plans are reporting increased funded positions in the second quarter of 2022, according to a report by Mercer Canada. It found the median solvency ratio increased from 108 per cent as at March 31 to 109 per cent as at […]
A new report is urging pension plan sponsors and other institutional investors to ensure the resilience of their portfolios in a number of different inflationary scenarios. The report from Mercer argued inflation rises spurred by the coronavirus pandemic and widespread monetary easing are balanced by several disinflationary forces, like globalization. Geopolitical tensions, however, could upset […]
As the 2022 Workplace Benefits Awards’ nomination process draws to a close later this month, Benefits Canada is pleased to announce this year’s panel of judges. The deadline for this year’s awards is June 30, at which time the awards entries will be turned over to the hands of several industry experts. Apply for the […]