Earlier this year, I received an email from a Canadian National Railway Co. employee who had recently learned their defined benefit pension plan was winding up and they’d be moved into a defined contribution plan. According to the plan member — who will remain anonymous — CN closed the DB plan to new hires more […]
The economic impact of the pandemic has been unevenly distributed across various industries, with travel and transportation among the hardest-hit sectors. However, while travel restrictions and subsequent employee layoffs in these industries made headlines throughout 2020 and 2021, the pension plans provided by these employers have largely weathered any economic fallout. The impact on air […]
Rio Tinto Group is making parental leave more accessible for employees by removing the distinction between primary and secondary caregivers. The policy change — which takes effect in Canada in June and will be implemented worldwide by the end of 2023 — provides all new parents with 18 weeks of 100 per cent paid parental […]
While the majority (79 per cent) of U.S. employees remain confident they’ll be able to retire when and how they want, a quarter are less confident than they were before the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey by Fidelity Investments Inc. The survey, which polled 2,600 workers, also found 71 per cent said they’re […]
Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of U.S. defined benefit plan sponsors are seeking to exit their plans, while 33 per cent are looking to achieve self-sufficiency and just five per cent are planning to keep their plans open, according to a survey by State Street Corp. Among DB plan sponsors eyeing an exit, the survey […]
With today marking the second anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic, it isn’t surprising that a pair of articles on the pandemic’s lasting impact were among the most read stories over the past week on BenefitsCanada.com. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Two years later: Canada’s DB, DC pension plans weathering the […]
The average 45-year-old Canadian employee earning $60,000 per year will need to accumulate $1.4 million in retirement savings by age 65 if they want to retire comfortably, according to a new report by Aon. It found since 2019, the average employee requires an additional $100,000 in private retirement savings, partly due to a one per […]
An article on British Columbia’s paramedics and their need for enhanced mental-health benefits was the most read story over the past week on BenefitsCanada.com. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. B.C. paramedics seeking enhanced mental-health benefits 2. Canadian pension plans overcoming legislation, governance challenges: webinar 3. Ontario’s DB pension plans should take steps […]
Representatives from a few of Canada’s most progressive pension plans weighed in on topics ranging from plan design to the various challenges posed by legislation and governance during a webinar hosted by the Association of Canadian Pension Management last week. Orla Cousineau, executive director of pensions at the University of British Columbia, said the province’s […]
More than a third (38 per cent) of U.S. employees increased their 401(k) contributions by an average of three per cent in 2021, according to a new survey by Fidelity Investments Inc. By the end of 2021, 83 per cent of workers with a 401(k) received a contribution from their employer, with the average employer […]