An article about an open letter that highlighted how proposed amendments to the federal Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act could have a positive impact on defined benefit plan members was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Amendments to insolvency legislation would secure DB pensions, […]
Apple Inc. is withholding its latest employee benefits from workers at one of its unionized retail stores. The technology giant is set to provide employees with more funds to pursue coursework and, in some states, employees will be able to access new health benefits, according to a report by Bloomberg, which cited people familiar with the matter. […]
Alongside the return of the live, in-person Healthy Outcomes Conference on Oct. 18, Benefits Canada announced the winners of the 2022 Workplace Benefits Awards. During the full-day conference in Toronto, 26 finalists gathered to learn about the big topics around employee health and well-being, with winner announcements across 11 categories announced throughout the day. All […]
Scotiabank is supporting employees with elderly relatives by providing five back-up days for elder care. The benefit provides in-home visits by personal support workers and was modelled after an existing program providing the bank’s employees with back-up childcare days, says Dominic Cole-Morgan, senior vice-president of total rewards. “It was about understanding sources of potential mental-health […]
Employer-sponsored health benefits cost trends are expected to increase by a record 10 per cent on average globally in 2023, amid rising inflation and increasing health-care utilization, according to a new survey by WTW. The survey, which polled more than 250 insurers representing 55 countries, found cost trends in Canada are expected to increase by […]
When Lightspeed Commerce Inc. employees headed back to their office this year, they found a space double the size of their last with a restaurant serving free meals, a smoothie bar and a barista to craft custom drinks. “We’re making it a very unique experience and the entire office is kind of a lounging area […]
An article on the lack of benefits provided by small- and medium-sized employers in Eastern Canada was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. 80% of SMEs in Eastern Canada don’t provide employee benefits: survey 2. Bank of England intervened in bond market to […]
The first issue of Benefits Canada hit the desks of the country’s human resources, benefits, pension and investment professionals in 1977, four years before I was born. That same year, Canada’s inflation rate was eight per cent, very close to July 2022’s annualized inflation rate of 7.6 per cent. A lot has changed in 45 […]
Our industry sometimes gets a bad rap for being overly traditional and slow to change. But there’s no question we’ve seen some major shifts in employee benefits over the past 45 years. Three of those shifts will have implications for employers going forward. Greater onus on the individual to save for retirement Over the years, […]
I was a little daunted to write a piece for Benefits Canada’s 45th anniversary issue — it has been almost 15 years since I last penned a column for the magazine and I’m a little out of practice. The assignment seemed straightforward — 500 to 600 words on how benefits have evolved or what’s expected […]