Coughlan Home’s manager of human resources talks employee assistance programs, ‘quiet rooms’ and showing appreciation. Q. What top challenges do you face in your role? A. Throughout my 15 years in human resources, I’ve found the biggest challenge was encouraging younger generations to begin planning for their retirement. I try to provide scenarios that will […]
Hub International Ltd. is acquiring Clearpoint Benefits Solutions, which includes Clearpoint Advisory Group Inc., Clearpoint Retirement Solutions Inc. and Canwest Group Benefits Inc. Clearpoint, which is located in Edmonton, with additional locations in Grande Prairie, Alta. and Fairview, Alta., is a benefits and retirement consulting firm. Read: Hub International acquires assets of Toronto-based benefits firm “Clearpoint is […]
Employer health-care costs will rise in 2021 for several reasons related to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report by Willis Towers Watson. With many employees deferring medical visits due to lockdown measures and fear of contracting the coronavirus, health-care costs for U.S. employers are expected to be between 3.3 and 8.8 per cent lower in 2020 than […]
L’Oréal Group is launching a new employee share purchase plan in 57 of the countries in which it operates. The latest offering comes on the heels of the global beauty company’s first worldwide employee share plan two years ago. “This year, after the success of the first plan in 2018, we want to once again involve our employees in the […]
Conte Financial Services Inc. and Dickinson & Associates are merging to become the Prime Benefits Group. The two Ottawa-based employee benefits and pension consulting firms finalized the merger earlier this month. The new firm continues to operate out of Canada’s capital city. Read: Hub acquires Ontario benefits, HR consulting firm Tony Conte, formerly president of Conte Financial Services, and […]
U.S. employers are planning to maintain core health benefits but are exploring other changes to preserve jobs and manage expenses, according to new a new survey by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. The survey, which looked at data from nearly 4,000 employers over several months, found close to half have planned salary freezes for management and executives (43 per cent) and non-management […]
Claims for medications treating mental-health issues like anxiety and depression reached 97 per cent of 2019’s total claims volume by the end of August 2020, according to new data from Express Scripts Canada. In addition, 2020 has seen a 20 per cent increase in claimants for medications relating to depression compared to 2019. “For the remainder of […]
Vodacom Group, a South African telecommunications firm, is providing all global employees with 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. Employees will be able to take the leave if they or their partner are having a baby, adopting a child or becoming a parent through surrogacy. They can take […]
Nearly half (45 per cent) of U.S. employers see investments in health and well-being as an integral part of their workplace strategy, compared to 36 per cent that said the same in 2019 and 27 per cent in 2018, according to an annual survey by Business Group on Health. The survey, which polled 122 large employers with […]
Navacord Corp. is expanding its group benefits business by acquiring British Columbia-based independent benefits brokerage Dehoney Financial Group. Dehoney, which has been in business for 40 years, provides benefits and retirement consulting, administration and life insurance products for executives and employees, working with a mix of public and privately owned Canadian companies. Read: Navacord acquiring Ontario-based […]