A British Columbia labour arbitration decision is providing insight on how a block level implementation of a benefits provider’s drug cost-control program violated a collective agreement in a unionized workplace. The Douglas College Faculty Association grieved the implementation of Manulife’s DrugWatch program contravened their collective agreement, which ensured “there will be no change to the […]
Ian McGrath has made it clear to his bosses: if the company forces staff to return to the office, he’ll tender his resignation. The Halifax-area technology worker says he’s thriving working from home. His productivity has soared, his last annual review exceeded expectations and he’s now one of the company’s top performers. “I’ve also achieved a […]
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario is introducing a whistleblower program to more effectively identify misconduct in the pensions and non-securities financial services sectors. The program will apply to any individual or entity who comes forward in good faith with valuable, timely and non-public/insider information related to an alleged or intended contravention in any […]
A ruling by the Supreme Court of British Columbia on the B.C. Credit Union Employers’ Pension Plan’s normal retirement date was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. B.C. court upholds pension plan’s decision to increase retirement age 2. Ontario NDP platform includes dental […]
The Supreme Court of British Columbia has upheld the B.C. Credit Union Employers’ Pension Plan’s decision to increase its normal retirement date to age 65 from age 62. The 2016 decision — which was made by trustees to maintain the plan’s financial viability — was being challenged by a group of plan members who alleged […]
Ontario’s New Democratic Party’s election platform includes universal dental care, mental-health care and pharmacare. Following the agreement reached between the federal Liberals and NDP in late March, the provincial NDP will lead the way on the program, working with the federal government to “strengthen and accelerate the expansion of dental care,” according to the platform that […]
As arbitral decisions relating to the reasonableness of mandatory coronavirus vaccination policies emerge, employers have clearly gained the upper hand. “The overall box score shows that, for the most part, arbitrators have upheld mandatory vaccination policies as reasonable,” says George Vassos, a labour and employment partner at Littler Mendelson. “In the most recent case, involving […]
The federal government will consider whether to include booster shots in the next version of the coronavirus vaccine mandate for its workers, said the Treasury Board as it reviews the rules. The government must review the need for the policy, which currently requires federal public servants to get two doses of the vaccine or face […]
Yale University and some of its employees have settled a class-action lawsuit over the university’s employee wellness program for US$1.29 million net of lawyers’ fees. The Healthy Expectations Program required its 5,000 unionized staff and their spouses to pay US$25 for every week they declined to participate in the program, for a total penalty of […]
The announcement of a new multi-employer pension plan for Canadian physicians was the most read story over the past week on BenefitsCanada.com. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. New multi-employer pension plan coming for incorporated physicians 2. Employees want flexible working, better benefits to return to workplace: survey 3. After a strong 2021, […]