Toronto’s Sterling Capital Brokers Ltd. is acquiring Vancouver’s Barclay Insurance Services Inc. Founded in 1990 by Eric Barclay, Barclay Insurance Services focuses on small- to medium-size businesses, developing cost-effective strategies to support plan sponsors in the employee benefits, group retirement and individual insurance space in British Columbia. “We are excited and proud to be the newest addition to the […]
Global consultancy Willis Towers Watson is rebranding as WTW. “Since 2016 we have been known as Willis Towers Watson, the combination of Willis and Towers Watson,” said Carl Hess (pictured), WTW chief executive officer, while leading the Nasdaq’s market opening bell ringing ceremony on Jan. 25. “Now we move forward as WTW, both a celebration […]
As competition to attract talent continues to heat up amid a tight labour market, the vast majority (90 per cent) of U.S. employers are planning to invest more in employee mental-health support, according to a new survey by Wellable. The survey, which polled almost 200 U.S. health insurance brokers and wellness consultants, found slightly more than […]
With many employers taking steps to support their employees’ emotional, financial and physical health during the coronavirus pandemic, the top benefits stories on BenefitsCanada.com in 2021 highlighted some of these innovative initiatives, including among the finalists and winners of this year’s Workplace Benefits Awards. Twitter’s monthly #DaysofRest initiative helping prevent employee burnout amid pandemic RBC […]
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is completing its acquisition of Willis Towers Watson’s global reinsurance business, Willis Re. The US$3.25 billion transaction was first announced in August and was finalized earlier this month. Together with Gallagher’s existing reinsurance operations, the combined businesses will trade as Gallagher Re from more than 70 offices across 31 countries and incorporate 2,400 […]
The proposed amendments to the patented medicines regulations by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board could have a big impact on both the group insurance and pharmaceutical industry. “The CLHIA is very supportive of PMPRB adjustments that may be coming,” said Joan Weir, director of health and disability policy at the Canadian Life and Health […]
Canadian employees want more comprehensive coverage under their benefits plans, according to a survey by the Conference Board of Canada and Telus Health. The survey, which polled more than 1,500 Canadian workers, found a majority (82 per cent) of respondents want basic dental services (such as preventative and minor restorative) covered by their benefits plans, […]
More than a third (38 per cent) of plan sponsors are planning to update their benefits plan design by the end of this year, on par with those that did so in 2020 (39 per cent), according to a survey by Arthur J. Gallagher Canada Ltd. The survey, which polled more than 500 Canadian plan […]
Unilever Canada Inc.’s fulsome approach to diversity, equity and inclusion led to its win in the diversity program category at Benefits Canada’s 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 14. At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Unilever Canada adopted the mantra “we’re navigating the same ocean, in different boats.” The adage, which created a shared sense of […]
Plan sponsors and plan members have diverging opinions on where benefits dollars are best spent, according to the 2021 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. The survey found that plan sponsors and members are less aligned on the value of many benefits than they were a year ago. Indeed, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year, […]