Andrea Garson, vice-president of HR with Workopolis, discusses the Canadian job market and shares strategies for managing your workforce during tough times. How severely has the recession affected Canada’s job market? The odds are that workers—that all of us—will come through the downturn of 2009 with a lot less scrapes and bruises than we did […]
The economic downturn hit pension investors hard. Were there any safe harbours? Chris Kautzky, a senior investment consultant with Hewitt Associates, looked at current and future pension investing trends in a webinar co-hosted by Benefits Canada and the Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute. With both bond and equity managers exhibiting poor performance, 2008 was a […]
Women face unique challenges when dealing with mental illness, and employers need to be flexible in accommodating these challenges, an expert panel concluded at a recent Xeffects conference in Toronto. Moderated by Dr. Catherine Classen of the Women’s College Hospital, panelists Dr. Leslie Buckley (University Health Network), Dr. Mona Gupta (Women’s College Hospital), Dr. Diane […]
Investors have clearly expressed a vote of no confidence in the markets. So how will we get out of this financial fix? I was at a reception the other day, when the conversation naturally turned to the markets and to hedge funds in particular. One consultant said he’s seeing an increased reluctance by plan sponsors […]
DC plan member engagement is even more important in an economic downturn. But how do you get the message out? Imagine you’re a 25-year veteran employee who plans to retire within the next five years. You’ve contributed regularly to your employer’s defined contribution (DC) plan over the course of your career—however, it’s been some time […]
As plan balances plummet, employees are worried about their future retirement. Could advice be the ace in the hole for employers? “You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em…” Kenny Rogers famously gave this advice in his classic hit. If only more investors had recalled this helpful nugget before last […]
The February blahs take on a deeper dimension as companies tighten their belts in a tough economy. Most of us weren’t sorry to see the end of 2008—a year that The Wall Street Journal has referred to as “one of the most brutal years ever.” But 2009 is off to a rocky start and the […]
While Canadian pension plan sponsors recognize the importance of risk management, they may be focusing their efforts in the wrong direction. In a pension risk survey by Hewitt Associates, Canadian respondents ranked interest rate risk (76%) and equity investment risk (74%) as either their No. 1 or No. 2 concern. Conducted in the summer of […]
Does your organization walk the talk on employee health? January is an ideal time to take a new look at old resolutions. And, if you’re like most Canadians, many of these are health-related— eating better, losing weight, quitting smoking or getting more exercise. Once the post-holiday guilt settles in, it usually starts out well. You […]
Reflections on 2008 and hopes for brighter days ahead in 2009. I’m looking at the white flakes whirling around outside the window—nicely coordinated with the papers piled on my desk—and I’m wondering how it can possibly be December already. And I don’t think I’m alone in this. For those in the pension and benefits industry, […]