A person’s place of work has a notable influence on his or her mental health. As more and more employers are being held legally responsible for the mental health of their employees, it’s paramount to increase employers’ awareness of what constitutes a psychologically healthy workplace. The legal case The roles and responsibilities of employers and […]
A year ago, pension plan sponsors were reporting significant losses. In fact, total pension assets for Benefits Canada’s 2009 Top 100 Pension Funds report fell by 16.8%. This year, the path has changed. Although the markets are still volatile, they are heading north, and many plan sponsors are starting their ascent out of the deep […]
The Canadian operation of Rio Tinto, a global exploration and mining company, has a presence in the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Ontario, but most of the employees (9,600) are located in Quebec. The majority of the workforce is unionized through several unions, all of which have different benefits plans. To complicate matters even […]
He was a top employee, someone who everyone counted on in the workplace—and then something changed. His personal life started to overlap with work. He started to look scruffy and dishevelled; he began to share conspiracy theories about “the man” with his fellow employees. Then the complaints from fellow colleagues started. HR watched his every […]
Although the term “third-party administrator” (TPA) seems pretty clear, the services that these companies provide and how they operate can vary significantly from organization to organization. While TPAs can help improve processes, find efficiencies and save plan sponsors money, there is no regulating body or official guidelines that TPAs need to adhere to, creating a […]
The lack of movement on pension reform in the 2010 federal budget may not have come as a surprise to some, but there is debate as to whether changes to public sector pension plans should have been included. “They explicitly mentioned the fact that the pensions for the public sector won’t be cut back. They […]
Dwayne Dubois, chief financial officer of Big Rock Brewery, a Calgary-based craft beer maker, reveals why it is one of Alberta’s Top 50 employers. What is Big Rock Brewery’s main workforce challenge? Big Rock is a manufacturing company that operates in a province where oil and gas are the primary industries, so we need to […]
At I Love Rewards, a developer of HR rewards and recognition software, acknowledging employees for exceptional work isn’t just something the sales crew talks about in its pitches to potential clients—it’s the foundation of the company. I Love Rewards offers a variety of custom-built programs to its clients, but Razor Suleman, founder and CEO, jests […]
Are oral and/or injectable drugs included in your organization’s drug plan? If you’re a plan sponsor and aren’t sure, you are not alone. According to data presented at the Employers Cancer Summit, hosted by Working Well magazine Feb. 23 in Toronto, 41% of plan decision-makers said they were unsure if these types of therapies were […]
The February issue of Benefits Canada featured a roundtable with senior representatives from custody service providers on the issues and trends facing the industry. This web-exclusive shares some of those insights a long with new commentary. Participants: J.B. (Bernie) Ward, director, corporate and group services, Canadian Western Trust François Gagnon, executive vice-president, custody services, Desjardins […]