At Benefits Canada‘s 2020 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 16, Ericsson was recognized for its comprehensive health and wellness program that helps employees address their physical, mental and social health needs. “We’ve really focused on a health and wellness program that would benefit employee’s health and overall well-being. . . . I think, for us, it’s always been important. […]
When the coronavirus pandemic hit, many organizations were focused on getting through the short term, but defined benefit pension plan sponsors are starting to take another look at de-risking. As of the second quarter of 2020, the total market volume of group annuity purchases year-to-date was $0.5 billion, compared to $1.5 billion in the first […]
While the majority of Canadian employers feel confident about the economy, 49 per cent of employees are seriously considering leaving their role, according to a new report by Hays Specialist Recruitment (Canada) Inc. Among the reasons cited by dissatisfied employees were reduced social interaction due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic (45 per cent), increased workloads […]
At Benefits Canada‘s 2020 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 16, Scotiabank was recognized for a mental-health strategy that starts at the top of the organization and focuses on total employee well-being. “It’s one thing for [human resources] to preach from the centre the importance of mental health, but it’s quite another — and quite inspiring — to […]
Despite the chance for a surprise Donald Trump victory in November’s U.S. presidential election, the country’s markets are locking in pricing on the assumption of a Joe Biden win, according to a webinar hosted by Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. on Tuesday. For Canadian institutional investors, the biggest impact of a Biden administration could eventually be felt […]
TMX Group Ltd.’s robust communications campaign for its long-standing employee share purchase plan led to a win in the benefits plan communications category at Benefits Canada‘s 2020 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 16. In April 2020, the financial services company branded its ESPP with the slogan “Think like an owner, be an owner,” encouraging an ownership mentality among staff. The […]
Canada’s retirement income system scored ninth place for the second year in a row, securing a “B” rating in spite of uncertainty in the markets as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The annual global pension index by Mercer and the CFA Institute noted the pandemic’s effects on the global pension fund markets aren’t only widespread […]
Canadian workers and companies expect wage growth to stay low over the coming year over heightened uncertainty from the coronavirus pandemic, the Bank of Canada says in two new reports. The central bank’s business outlook survey finds that wage growth is widely expected to slow over the next year, with some firms reporting a wage […]
While the overall financial state of Ontario’s defined benefit pension plans improved in 2019, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario continues to monitor fluctuations caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In the FSRA’s new report, it projected the estimated going-concern and solvency funding positions of the province’s DB plans to a common year-end date. […]
Canadian employers that were hoping to get back to business as usual this fall have had those hopes dashed as the second wave of the pandemic pummels hospitals, as well as bottom lines and return-to-office plans. Our country is nowhere near herd immunity, which means without a safe and effective vaccine we’re still nowhere near returning to how […]