The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan is increasing its lifetime pension for all active plan members effective Jan. 1, 2023. As an example, under the latest increase, members working full time with average earnings of $60,000 and 10 years of service in the plan before 2023 will receive an extra $1,310 per year from their lifetime pension once they retire. Members […]
Roughly two-fifths (37 per cent) of U.S. employers are increasing the quality of their existing benefits offerings to help with employee retention and attraction efforts, according to a survey by Principal Financial Services Inc. The survey, which polled 500 employers and 200 employees, found the top three enhanced benefits are short- and long-term disability insurance, […]
The economic impact of the pandemic has been unevenly distributed across various industries, with travel and transportation among the hardest-hit sectors. However, while travel restrictions and subsequent employee layoffs in these industries made headlines throughout 2020 and 2021, the pension plans provided by these employers have largely weathered any economic fallout. The impact on air […]
A majority of Canadian employers believe providing workplace retirement savings plans can improve employee attraction and retention, according to a survey by Maru Group Ltd. on behalf of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan. The survey, which polled 800 Canadian employers, found 88 per cent of those that offer a defined benefit pension plan said […]
Three-quarters (75 per cent) of Canadians nearing or in early retirement said the coronavirus pandemic has them more concerned about their family’s financial security and well-being, according to a survey by Ipsos for Ryerson University’s National Institute on Ageing and HomeEquity Bank. Among respondents aged 55 to 69, 77 per cent expressed worry about their […]
About 900 employees at Rio Tinto Group’s aluminum smelting facilities in Kitimat, B.C. are on strike after Unifor Local 2301 and the company failed to reach an agreement on July 25. The union continued negotiations with Rio Tinto until the strike deadline at midnight, according to a press release. Unifor is seeking changes to workers’ […]
The newly minted University Pension Plan is tackling environmental, social and governance issues head on by partnering with the 30% Club, Canadian Coalition for Good Governance and Shareholder Association for Research and Education. Read: University Pension Plan launches multi-employer DB pension plan Joining the 30% Club will help the UPP make greater representation of women on […]
The University Pension Plan is launching its jointly sponsored pension plan, providing management services to the Queen’s University, the University of Guelph and the University of Toronto. The plan, which was established on Jan. 1, 2020, officially launched on July 1, 2021. The UPP is a new jointly sponsored pension plan designed to enhance the long-term sustainability […]
While a recent dispute between the Canadian National Railway Co. and the surviving same-sex partner of a deceased plan member will likely inspire other plan sponsors to ensure pension benefits are correctly distributed, the amount of new claimants coming forward will likely be relatively small, says Jill Wagman, managing principal at Eckler Ltd. “It may […]
Nova Scotia is allowing residents to apply directly to their financial institution to access their retirement savings when facing financial challenges. Under amendments to provincial pension legislation effective July 1, a person may be approved to access part of a locked-in retirement account or life income fund if they expect less than $41,067 in income […]