The government of Manitoba has announced it will introduce pooled retirement pension plans as a new option to help the province’s employees save for retirement. While the government offered scant details about the matter in its throne speech on Monday, it plans to propose PRPP legislation in the next couple of days, according to Duncan […]
Among benefits and workplace programs that promote work-life balance, Canadian employees place a high value on the opportunity to work flexibly and take time off, according to a new survey by temporary staffing firm OfficeTeam. The survey, which polled employers and employees, found that 42 per cent of employee respondents value flexible work schedules and […]
Employers can use five management practices to lower mental health and disability claim rates in their organization, according to a new study. The five-year Salveo Study, led by researchers from Université de Montréal, Université Laval and Concordia University, in partnership with Manulife Financial, identified some of the risk factors that contribute to mental-health disorders in […]
With November marking Canada’s financial literacy month, now is a great time for employers to address the need for financial education in the workplace, says Jane Rooney, financial literacy leader at the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. “The workplace is an important avenue to reach Canadians because it’s like the school system for children,” says […]
The Ontario government announced plans yesterday to establish a new pension regulator. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority will be an independent and flexible regulatory body aimed at improving protections for consumers, investors and pension plan beneficiaries, according to the Ministry of Finance’s 2016 fiscal update. The announcement follows recommendations by an expert panel appointed to review the mandates of […]
A year and a half ago, Roberta Hardern of St. Albert, Alta., travelled to Los Algodones, Mexico, for dental work. The neighbouring town of Yuma, Ariz., has dental offices on every corner and is a popular destination for Canadians who need major dental procedures but have tight budgets. For $8,500, Hardern received 28 new dental […]
Although rising costs for pension and benefits plans continue to be a concern for employers, many plan sponsors are finding ways to address the challenges they face, participants at a recent Benefits Canada roundtable discussion in Toronto pointed out. Among the priorities is mental health, given the challenges the issue can present. As Barbara Martinez, practice […]
If you ask me what I remember from taking the careers course in Grade 10, I would only be able to recall that a quiz concluded I’d make a fine jeweller. Needless to say, I never came close to pursuing that glittery occupation and the rest of what I learned during that semester is a […]
Costs for expensive and recurring drug treatments increased by about 22 per cent between 2014 to 2015, according to new data published by the Canadian Drug Insurance Pooling Corp. Overall, the report found those costs increased to $228.7 million in 2015 from $187.9 million the year before, with autoimmune-related diseases continuing to be the leading […]
The City of Winnipeg will soon approach police unions about amending their defined benefit pension plan as it struggles to keep it afloat, according to the CBC. It reported that last Friday, Mike Ruta, Winnipeg’s chief financial officer, sent an email to city council members about the sustainability of the city’s police pension plan in […]