The head of the European Central Bank says the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic “risks losing momentum” due to a second wave of infections and that more stimulus could be added if necessary. “The second wave of the pandemic in Europe, notably in France, and the resulting new restrictions are adding to the uncertainty […]
Mindful Employer Canada is launching an online mental-health training program. The program focuses on the various support tools and strategies available for employers to use when dealing with mental-health issues in the workplace. It also offers education on commitment-based management, having difficult conversations and fair process leadership. “Becoming a certified Mindful Leader is an important accreditation, especially […]
Benefits Canada is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2020 Workplace Benefits Awards. At a virtual roundtable and awards ceremony on Friday morning, 19 finalists gathered to discuss their leading benefits and pension strategies, followed by winner announcements across seven categories. The following winners — and all of the finalists — represent benefits and pension plans covering more than 280,000 Canadians. These […]
With federal and provincial regulators introducing relief measures this year to support pension plans amid the financial upheaval resulting from the coronavirus crisis, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario saw a lot of action from plan sponsors registered in the province. “In terms of whether plans are taking advantage of the relief — they are in […]
Across the G20 nations, older workers are increasingly vital to a post-pandemic recovery, according to a new report by ageing policy think tank International Longevity Centre U.K. Every third dollar is earned by someone aged 50 or older and nearly one in three workers (29 per cent of the G20 workforce) were over the age of 50 […]
Looking back at all of the pension legislation stories we’ve written up during the coronavirus pandemic, I’ve noticed federal and provincial governments definitely favoured defined benefit plans over defined contribution plans in their various temporary regulations. In the first month of the pandemic, the feds halted solvency special payments for federally regulated DB plans until […]
When Assad Mallick joined Cineplex Inc. in June 2019 as vice-president and head of total rewards, one of the mandates of his new role was to set up a new three-part recognition program. With more than 13,000 employees in Canada and the U.S., the entertainment company had a long-standing program recognizing length of service and […]
Defined contribution pensions are taking a bumpy ride in the coronavirus pandemic, with plan sponsors and their members facing volatile stock markets, financial uncertainty and interruptions to business as usual. Whether related to plan design, investment options, decumulation or overall financial well-being and education, what issues are taking the spotlight this year and what changes […]
Over the last 20 years, managing a pension plan has looked a little like riding a roller coaster — with the 2001 technology bubble, 2008/09 financial crisis and the recent coronavirus market volatility providing sudden, gut-wrenching drops that can draw a scream from even the heartiest of souls. “From an investment standpoint, we’ve been in […]
The Local Authorities Pension Plan is in an interesting situation. Historically, the president of the Alberta Treasury Board and the minister of finance was the plan’s legal trustee and administrator, but in 2019, the LAPP became independent of government, with its own sponsor board and corporation, which now acts as the plan’s trustee and administrator. […]