Blake Wolfe

Head to head: Are employers effectively using monthly awareness campaigns to support year-round DEI efforts?

One consultant says these campaigns are informing employers’ strategic decision-making, while another stresses the importance of ensuring employees understand the reason for marking these occasions. Michelle Grocholsky, founder and chief executive officer, Empowered EDI Many employers are aligning these monthly campaigns to support and advance strategic diversity, equity and inclusion actions. For example, employee storytelling campaigns […]

  • June 21, 2024 June 20, 2024
  • 08:59

How BNP Paribas’ DEI strategy is attracting, supporting diverse talent

While employers in the financial services industry have made some progress in attracting diverse talent across the traditionally male-dominated sector, there’s still a long way to go. To this end, BNP Paribas is widening its talent pool and supporting a diverse workforce through a comprehensive diversity, equity and inclusion strategy that encompasses recruitment, leadership training […]

  • June 21, 2024 June 20, 2024
  • 08:58

Flight Centre’s 2023 Workplace Benefits Awards wins communicating wellness offerings to employees

Flight Centre Travel Group’s pair of wins in the 2023 Workplace Benefits Awards is reminding employees of the mental and physical wellness offerings available through the company’s benefits plan, says Anna Fisher, the organization’s health and wellness director. “I think, too, that the awards have provided validation for our employees that we do want to […]

  • June 18, 2024 June 13, 2024
  • 09:00

Editorial: What a difference four years makes

Four years ago, as the coronavirus pandemic entered its third month, I unknowingly — and unwittingly — took my first steps towards a new chapter in my career. As a writer for a Canadian travel trade publication, I was suddenly without work as the health crisis brought the global travel industry to a screeching halt. […]

  • May 10, 2024 August 19, 2024
  • 09:00

Head to head: Should employers implement location-based pay for remote workers?

A consultant says location is one of many factors determining pay, while a human resources specialist argues it shouldn’t be a consideration. Cissy Pau, principal consultant, Clear HR Consulting Inc. Work location is certainly a factor to consider when determining pay for remote workers. When conducting compensation benchmarking, it’s common practice to look at pay […]

  • May 10, 2024 May 9, 2024
  • 08:59

Coverage of the 2024 DC Plan Summit

At the 2024 Defined Contribution Plan Summit, which was hosted in Vancouver on Feb. 27-29, attendees learned about the various challenges and solutions for DC plan sponsors across the accumulation and decumulation phases, including how to cater to different generations’ needs and innovative investment and drawdown options, through expert thought leadership and employer case studies […]

  • May 10, 2024 May 6, 2024
  • 08:00

How AI is impacting DC plan members’ financial decisions

While artificial intelligence may one day be able to remove human bias from financial decision-making, that development remains far in the future, said Lisa Kramer, a professor of finance at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, during the keynote session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Defined Contribution Plan Summit in February. “Human nature is […]

  • May 10, 2024 May 6, 2024
  • 08:00

How DC plan sponsors can support women’s financial confidence

While women are increasingly becoming primary income earners, few women manage their own finances as they near retirement, said Elisha Ribeiro, national sales director for integrated and group retirement services at the Canada Life Assurance Co. (pictured right), during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Defined Contribution Plan Summit in February. “In our 20s, there […]

  • May 10, 2024 May 6, 2024
  • 07:59

AI can enhance DC pension communication, employee experience

Employers can leverage artificial intelligence to enhance the employee experience, including improvements to defined contribution pension communication, said John Bradley, director of emerging technologies at Fidelity Investments, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 DC Plan Summit in February. “For a good employee experience to take place, an employee has to feel like the majority […]

  • May 10, 2024 May 6, 2024
  • 07:58

A look at the Australian Retirement Trust’s approach to decumulation

Inspired by the University of British Columbia’s variable payment lifetime annuity option, the Australian Retirement Trust is taking a similar approach to decumulation, which, in turn, may hold lessons for Canadian defined contribution plan sponsors, said Brnic Van Wyk, the plan’s head of asset and liability management, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 DC […]

  • May 10, 2024 May 6, 2024
  • 07:57