Poor financial well-being is a growing problem, impacting Canadian employees’ on-the-job performance, health and absenteeism rates, according to a new survey by Willis Towers Watson. Its survey found that 23 per cent of respondents identified themselves as struggling. Among that group, almost half said that worries about finances were preventing them from performing their best at work. More than […]
In its sixth year of offering employees educational workshops during Financial Literacy Month, Western University has changed its approach this time by delivering information on a range of topics rather than just the organization’s pension plans. In the past, the university has used the financial literacy focus to communicate the details of its two defined contribution plans, […]
More than three-quarters (79 per cent) of Canadians aged 35 to 54 are worried about not having enough money to retire when they want to, according to a new survey by CIBC. The survey, which polled more than 1,500 Canadian adults, found the vast majority (85 per cent) agreed they need to save more money, but 64 […]
More than 80 per cent of Canadian employees would be interested in an employer-provided financial education program, according to a new survey by the Canadian Payroll Association. The survey, published during Financial Literacy Month, indicates that Canadians are dealing with increased financial stress, and that 50 per cent feel it affects their on-the-job performance. “Financial stress […]
Macroeconomic trends such as longer lives, a lack of access to pensions and retirement supports, a low-growth environment, and persistent lack of financial literacy and trust in financial markets are creating a significant retirement savings gap between what people require in retirement and what they’ve actually saved. This is a global issue. But in Canada alone, […]
Financial concerns weigh heavily on employees’ minds both at home and at work, according to a new survey by Ernst & Young. As such, many organizations recognize the need to help their employees by providing a financial wellness program. The majority (86 per cent) of human resources professionals surveyed said their organization offers such a […]
A consultant’s role was historically a passive one, says Martin Leclair, who recently left a role at Toronto-based consulting firm Proteus Performance Management. The consultant’s role centred on the various aspects of developing pension and benefits plans for employers, from choosing fund offerings and implementing target-date options and automatic enrolment to decisions about formularies, step […]
Canada is facing a $13.4-trillion retirement savings deficit by 2050, up from a $2.7-trillion shortfall in 2015, according to a new report by Mercer. Among all eight countries included in the report — Australia, Britain, Canada, China, India, Japan, the Netherlands and the United States — the current gap between aggregate savings and expected annual retirement […]
KPMG LLP has run its first series of retirement education sessions through in-person workshops, one-on-one meetings and a version on Skype for employees at its smaller locations. The firm introduced the sessions in May after a 2015 pilot program with a small group of employees found people wanted to receive more education about their retirement savings. […]
It’s never easy telling employees their pension benefits are getting worse, whether that’s because of a merger, a sale or simply a cost-savings measure. But when it happens, employers should consider several tactics to minimize both employee distress and the possibility of a lawsuit. “They need to be aware of potential constructive dismissal [litigation] that could occur if […]