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 […]
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 […]
Over the past year, union negotiations have ramped up and wage settlements have reached new heights, mainly due to the fact that negotiations were set back by the coronavirus pandemic and the inflation that followed, says Douglas Porter, chief economist and managing director at BMO Financial Group. “Like night follows day, labour unrest and strike […]
Central banks are achieving a successful soft landing strategy after concerning periods of high inflation following the coronavirus pandemic, said Douglas Porter, chief economist and managing director at BMO Financial Group, during the keynote session at the Canadian Investment Review’s 2024 Endowment & Foundation Investment Forum in June. Inflation is receding from dangerous highs to […]
Generation Z workers may be feeling more disconnected or isolated due to the effects of remote work, but employers can help by providing opportunities for connectivity, says Alexandra Duba, people experience advisor at Xero Ltd. “It has so much to do with how the [coronavirus] pandemic impacted in-person connection, as well as the impact technology […]
A decline in the number of long-term disability claims over the past three years may be the result of some employees prioritizing their financial health over physical and mental wellness, said William Lindsay, senior disability management advisor for Desjardins Insurance’s disability management and prevention team, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health Summit in June. The […]
During a panel discussion at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health Summit in June, three plan sponsors discussed whether the size of an employer impacts its ability to support workers’ mental health. Telus Communications Inc., which has roughly 30,000 employees, has developed a mental-health strategy that recognizes the whole employee based on five wellness dimensions — […]
There has seen a “huge increase” in mental-health practitioner claims following the coronavirus pandemic, said Sylvana Leclerc, organizational health consultant for integrated health solutions at Sun Life Financial Inc., during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Vancouver Benefits Summit in May. Citing findings from the insurer’s annual Health by Design report, she said in 2022, […]
Telus Communications Inc. is ensuring employees bring their best self to the job by supporting their well-being both in the workplace and at home, said Wade Domries, the company’s vice-president of global total rewards, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Vancouver Benefits Summit in May. The organization’s current approach to well-being started taking shape […]
Mental-health claims by Canadians have increased by 132 per cent since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report by GreenShield. The report, which compiled data from the insurer’s claims database between 2020 to 2023, found women and younger generations account for the majority of mental-health services accessed. Among those accessing mental-health services, stress […]