coronavirus pandemic – Benefits Canada.com

A look at the development, rationale behind York Region’s right-to-disconnect policy

Sadie Janes — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:58:53 +0000

When Ontario’s right-to-disconnect legislation came into effect in 2022, York Region was eager to comply as it aligned with the organization’s goals and workplace culture, according to Brittany Dunlop, the region’s manager of wellness and benefits. The legislation, which was originally introduced by the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario as part of the Working for […]

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How institutional investors are approaching digital infrastructure assets

bwolfe — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:55:48 +0000

For institutional investors looking to add some glitz to their portfolio, digital infrastructure may not be the right asset class. Benn Mikula and his colleagues at Cordiant Capital Inc. have a nickname for the group of assets — which includes communications towers, data centres and fibre optics — typically featured in a digital infrastructure portfolio. […]

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Sounding Board: How hybrid, remote working arrangements can impact compensation

bwolfe — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 13:00:49 +0000

Although jobs that involve working remotely have been around for decades in some form or another, the coronavirus pandemic brought them front and centre. There are several issues regarding salary and these working arrangements. The first is whether such jobs should be paid the same as the same job in the office. Generally, hybrid and remote […]

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Employers mandating 5-day onsite work may see exodus of skilled employees: expert

lbailey — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:00:27 +0000

Employers that mandate employees return to a five-day, in-office workweek may see workers resigning or ‘quiet quitting,’ says Dror Poleg, an economic historian and former technology and private equity executive. Last month, Andy Jassy, Amazon.com Inc.’s chief executive officer, announced in a memo that employees will be required to work from the office five days […]

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Majority of employers feel it’s challenging to provide benefits in today’s economic climate: 2024 BCHS

Jennifer Paterson — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:00:47 +0000

A large majority (80 per cent) of Canadian employers feel it’s extremely (36 per cent) or somewhat challenging (44 per cent) to provide benefits in today’s economic climate, according to the 2024 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. However, three-quarters (77 per cent) of plan sponsors indicated their health benefits plan was extremely or very important to […]

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Head to head: Are employers reversing the ‘she-cession’ in the post-pandemic era?

Sadie Janes — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 12:59:56 +0000

One chief executive officer acknowledges that employers have made promising progress, while a human resources director argues more work needs to be done. Jodi Kovitz, chief executive officer of the Human Resources Professionals Association I’m heartened by the progress we’ve made towards gender equity in Canada, particularly in leadership roles. Since 2015, the percentage of […]

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Remote working supporting employee productivity but not a one-size-fits-all solution: expert

bwolfe — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 13:00:38 +0000

While hybrid and remote working arrangements can help some employees be more productive, it’s important that employers don’t take a “one-size-fits-all” approach when implementing these policies, says Kristin Bower, a partner and diversity, equity and inclusion consultant at Leda HR. “[Implementing a successful remote working policy] takes intentionality and human connection. . . . It’s […]

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Mental-health leaves of absence among U.S. workers up 22% in Q1 2024: report

lbailey — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:00:03 +0000

Roughly one in ten (11 per cent) of all leaves of absence among U.S. workers in the first quarter of 2024 were due to mental health — a 22 per cent increase from this period last year, according to a new report by ComPsych Corp. The report, which analyzed ComPsych’s absence book of business that […]

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Expert panel: Institutional investors should re-evaluate fees in ‘turbulent twenties’

bmcgovern — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 13:00:43 +0000

An altering macroeconomic environment means that cost management requires continual attention by pension plans and other institutional investors. Today, as inflation and higher-for-longer rates exert upward pressure on institutional investors’ costs in a variety of areas, from technology to team member salaries, it’s time once again to re-evaluate the fees being paid to external asset […]

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Canadian employers focusing on workers’ emotional well-being in post-pandemic era: survey

bwolfe — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 13:00:02 +0000

More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of Canadian employers say employees’ emotional well-being continues to be their main wellness focus as they navigate challenges posed by workplace mental-health concerns and hybrid working arrangements, according to a new survey by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. The survey, which polled more than 400 employers, found roughly a […]

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