After hearing in May that the federal government was consulting with Canadians on bringing the right to request flexible working to all federally regulated employees, I thought it was about time Canada considered the issue. It’s no secret that the way we work has changed dramatically in the past decade and labour laws need to […]
With many Canadians struggling to balance their work responsibilities with their duties as caregivers for loved ones, employers are facing the challenge of how to step up and offer support. “Business has to come to the table and take a proactive role. Besides it being the right thing to do, it makes economic sense,” says […]
When France implemented its 35-hour workweek more than 15 years ago, it seemed to signal a real victory for work-life balance in a world where the lines between work and personal matters had grown increasingly blurry. But is the country’s latest labour reform bill, which includes an amendment governing work email after hours, another step […]
While there has been plenty of attention on the affect of Nortel Networks Corp.’s bankruptcy on its pension plan members, the struggle by a group of employees to receive what the company owes them in long-term disability benefits plan has been less prominent. But amid years of legal wrangling, a group of 350 long-term disabled […]
As contract negotiations between the City of Saskatoon and its transit workers heat up, the parties are in disagreement about the nature of the central issue, the defined benefit pension plan. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615, which represents the transit workers, says the city is proposing a move from a defined benefit pension to […]
The Royal Bank of Canada in enhancing its employee resource groups this year following a comprehensive impact assessment of the program for the first time. The organization’s employee resource groups —including women, aboriginals, people with disabilities, visible minorities, newcomers and lesbian, gay and transgender employees — have been in place for many years in Canada, […]
A Senate bill seeking to ban discrimination on the basis of genetic characteristics that’s moving to the House of Commons next week has significant implications for the life insurance industry as well as group insurance polices and other areas of employment. The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association opposes the bill, arguing it would violate the principle of equal information. […]
The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System is changing its additional voluntary contributions program to allow pension members to keep non-locked-in funds in their voluntary account after they turn 71, so they can continue to earn returns from the OMERS fund. The changes, which were approved on Aug. 31, were introduced in response to member requests […]
As Unifor moves ahead in its contract negotiations with the Detroit Three, the union said part of the conversation will be around the automakers’ pension structure. The Canadian auto union announced on Tuesday it will target General Motors to set the bargaining pattern for the auto industry in Canada, just two weeks before its four-year […]
With the provision of defined benefit pensions on the decline and the subsequent growth in defined contribution plans, Canada’s retirement savings landscape is in a significant state of flux. But one of the underlying implications of the move to defined contribution pensions is the consequent shift of responsibility. While the defined benefit plan member traditionally […]