As coronavirus cases rise across the country and some return-to-work plans become return-to-home plans, many employers are wondering how to help their employees adapt once again as the second wave of the pandemic slams into Canada. Will there be another lockdown this year? Will children be expected to learn remotely again while employees work? How can we, as […]
A recent decision from the Supreme Court of Canada suggests the test for employers seeking to limit recovery for unlawful termination damages related to long-term incentive plans may be insurmountable in practice. The mid-October ruling concluded that David Matthews was entitled to a payout under his incentive plan when the company was sold 13 months […]
While the shift from driving to an office in a suit to shuffling to a laptop in slippers was supposed to be a temporary reaction to the global health crisis, the majority of employees want it to be a permanent change. The majority (80 per cent) of U.S. employees said they expect to work remotely at least […]
Like a spiky meteorite, when the coronavirus pandemic hit earlier this year it demolished employer’s best-laid plans and is forcing them to find innovative ways to support, motivate and retain employees. During a virtual roundtable on Oct. 16, the 2020 Workplace Benefits Awards finalists discussed how they’ve quickly responded to everything from employee mental health to supporting financial wellness […]
Stikeman Elliott LLP is appointing Mark Firman as counsel in its tax and pensions and benefits groups in Montreal. In his career, Firman has advised on all aspects of pension and executive compensation law, including pension fund investments, plan governance and administration issues, stock option and other equity-based incentive plans and corporate governance relating to […]
While the majority of Canadian employers feel confident about the economy, 49 per cent of employees are seriously considering leaving their role, according to a new report by Hays Specialist Recruitment (Canada) Inc. Among the reasons cited by dissatisfied employees were reduced social interaction due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic (45 per cent), increased workloads […]
Starbucks Corp. is aiming to tie its executive compensation to diversity targets beginning in 2021. The move is one of a series of initiatives the coffee chain has pledged to implement in its diversity, equity and inclusion goals and training, which come at a time of social justice unrest in the U.S. Starbucks has committed to […]
At Benefits Canada‘s 2020 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 16, Scotiabank was recognized for a mental-health strategy that starts at the top of the organization and focuses on total employee well-being. “It’s one thing for [human resources] to preach from the centre the importance of mental health, but it’s quite another — and quite inspiring — to […]
Benefits Canada is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2020 Workplace Benefits Awards. At a virtual roundtable and awards ceremony on Friday morning, 19 finalists gathered to discuss their leading benefits and pension strategies, followed by winner announcements across seven categories. The following winners — and all of the finalists — represent benefits and pension plans covering more than 280,000 Canadians. These […]
When Assad Mallick joined Cineplex Inc. in June 2019 as vice-president and head of total rewards, one of the mandates of his new role was to set up a new three-part recognition program. With more than 13,000 employees in Canada and the U.S., the entertainment company had a long-standing program recognizing length of service and […]