After closing its defined benefit pension plan nearly two decades ago and replacing it with a less riskier defined contribution plan, International Business Machines Corp. is launching a new retirement benefit account that allows its U.S. employees to have the best of both worlds. Last week, the company ceased its 401(k) matching and one per […]
A survey on the retirement readiness of Canadian workers and a looming retirement crisis was the most-read pension story on BenefitsCanada.com this year. Here are the 10 most popular pension news stories of 2023: 1. Survey finds 44% of Canadian pre-retirees have less than $5,000 in savings 2. Ford, Unifor agreement includes significant DC pension improvements, transition to […]
An article on how employers can support employees with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. How employers can help employees with ADHD be engaged, productive 2. FSRA’s proposed rule could increase fairness in division of pension benefits during marriage […]
Before Janet Jule joined the Saskatchewan Healthcare Employees’ Pension Plan as its chief investment officer in 2015, the pension plan sponsor started adding a wider variety of assets to its portfolio, emphasizing diversification and lowering its dependence on equities. Indeed, like many other plan sponsors, the SHEPP’s investment strategy is increasingly incorporating more alternative asset […]
The organization’s vice-president of talent acquisition and total rewards discusses promoting careers to equity-deserving communities, a new menopause policy and the stability of joining a defined benefit pension plan. Q: What top challenges do you face in your role? A: One of the organization’s commitments to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture is to […]
The Pension Investment Association of Canada is calling on the B.C. Financial Services Authority to reconsider implementing new standards for climate-related risks analysis guidelines, noting it would be extremely challenging for most pension plans to meet a potential new climate and transition risk review system. In an open letter, the PIAC recommended a principles-based approach to […]
U.S. public sector defined benefit pension plans that have switched to a defined contribution model have experienced negative cash flows and increased costs and employee turnover, according to a new report by the National Institute on Retirement Security. The report analyzed five public sector pension plans including those in Alaska, Michigan and West Virginia. It […]
The funded ratio of the 100 largest corporate defined benefit pension plans in the U.S. dipped from 104 per cent at the end of October to 103 per cent as of Nov. 30, according to Milliman Inc.’s latest public pension funding index. It found as rates fell from 6.2 per cent in October to 5.55 per cent […]
U.S.-based defined benefit pension plan sponsors are increasingly looking to assess their liability-driven investment strategies as they reach fully funded statuses, according to a new study by Coalition Greenwich and commissioned by Franklin Templeton. The study found nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of pension plan sponsors reported funding ratios of 100 per cent or higher, […]
After a five-day strike, the union representing 800 employees at Magna International Inc.’s Integram Seating factory in Windsor, Ont. has ratified a collective agreement that includes multiple benefits gains. The benefits gains include: vision coverage, from $250 every two years to $400; a rise in the basic annual dental maximum, from $1,600 to $1,900; an […]