In normal circumstances, pension plan members don’t respond well to being inundated with information about their plans. Typically, a deluge of content can turn off plan members, says Jillian Kennedy, leader of defined contribution and financial wellness at Mercer Canada. But today’s circumstances are far from ordinary. “Right now, you can’t over communicate.” In 2008, the financial […]
In the midst of an unusual or unsettling situation, such as the coronavirus pandemic, pension plan sponsors should remember that both defined benefit and capital accumulation plan arrangements are intended to be managed for the long term. The negative impact of the coronavirus on global economies and on businesses is a concern, particularly with respect to […]
Recommendations from two provincially appointed special mediators have failed to quell the labour dispute between Federated Co-operatives Ltd. and the union representing its refinery employees. On Sunday, Unifor Local 594 said it filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the Saskatchewan Labour Board in early March, alleging that Co-op undertook a “concerted campaign of psychological attacks on union […]
With many people around the world facing layoffs due to business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus, financial stress is pervasive. In Australia, the government is allowing individuals affected by coronavirus to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation savings tax-free in both 2019-20 and 2020-21, subject to restrictions, including that they must be unemployed or […]
La Presse is reducing all of its employees’ salaries by 10 per cent and temporarily lowering the employer’s contribution to the defined contribution pension plan. In a press release, the Quebec-based digital newspaper said this translates to an average 14 per cent pay cut for all employees, including its unionized workforce. “This extraordinary situation is […]
With the federal government easing the withdrawal requirements for registered retirement income funds in a bid to alleviate the harm to retirees’ portfolios caused by the coronavirus-spurred market crash, the industry is suggesting similar measures for other retirement arrangements. “Canadians who are about to turn money into income will be faced with the decision of […]
Canadians, like many around the world, have watched from the sidelines as interest rates have plummeted and the markets have dropped significantly over the past couple of weeks, with a devastating toll on both personal retirement savings and employer-sponsored pension and other retirement savings plans. Existing industry concerns about the adequacy of retirement savings in […]
As many employers are forced to temporarily lay off employees due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, what does that mean for the provision of benefits and pension plans? Kim Siddall, vice-president and local practice leader at Aon, says eliminating benefits isn’t the route most employers would voluntarily choose, but she acknowledges that where […]
While some may still dream of an early retirement, the world where freedom 55 seemed like a genuine possibility is no longer the world we live in today. However, in some ways, the retirement systems established by Canada’s government don’t reflect the current reality — in order to achieve a financially healthy retirement, Canadians will need to […]
The nearly four-month lockout at the Federated Co-operatives Ltd. refinery in Regina over pension changes could be nearing an end. However, while Unifor has accepted recommendations from an independent mediator, the Co-op Refinery Complex said in a statement it’s unable to accept the recommendations in full and will have to make modifications out of its […]