Quebec Minister of Health and Social Services Yves Bolduc announced on July 13 the passage of legislation that provides universal coverage for treatments related to assisted procreation for all women of childbearing age, regardless of their marital status or sexual orientation. These measures, according to a Mercer ‘Client Alert’, will be in effect as of […]
The demise of defined benefit (DB) plans could be countered with smarter policies, according to a new report. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) latest report The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Defined Benefit Plans and the Need for Counter-Cyclical Funding Regulations, argues that countercyclical funding policies—such as better tax ceilings for […]
Some employers are placing too much confidence in the ability of employees to understand written health and safety policies, possibly placing themselves and their workers at risk, according to a Conference Board of Canada report. Survey results published in the report What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: Literacy’s Impact on Workplace Health and Safety […]
New research compares long-term weight management versus short-term weight loss, and finds the former can provide more significant benefits for both individual employees and the employer’s bottom line. According to StayWell Health Management, a key role for prevention specialists and employers alike is to manage expectations when it comes to affecting weight maintenance and weight […]
Investors looking for a leg up should pay attention to the mood of the Chinese business community four months ago and whether it’s an even or odd-numbered year, according to portfolio managers with Fidelity Investments. In a recent webcast on market volatility, Fidelity’s head of Canadian equities Andrew Marchese and asset allocation director Trevor Greetham […]
The Canada Pension Plan’s (CPP) reserve fund was among the top-performing funds in terms of investment returns during the “boom and bust” era of 2005–2009, but overall global pension fund assets are still below pre-crisis levels, according to an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report. The organization’s July issue of Pension Markets in […]
Pension plan allocations to alternative assets have nearly tripled over the past 10 years and now account for 17% of all pension fund assets globally, according to research from Towers Watson. The firm’s Global Alternatives Survey of 149 asset managers covers the following asset classes: real estate, private equity fund of funds, fund of hedge […]
Aon Corp. has agreed to buy human resources company Hewitt Associates for US$4.9 billion in a cash and stock deal. Aon said it will pay $50 per share for Hewitt, a 41% premium over Hewitt’s closing price Friday of $35.40. The insurance broker plans to create a new consulting and outsourcing operations unit, Aon Hewitt, […]
Canadian employers are implementing wellness programs and drug cost-containment strategies in an effort to battle rising healthcare plan costs. And according to a new International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) survey, they’re making headway. The 2010 Group Health Care Cost Control in Canada, a poll of 665 Canadians from the employee benefits industry, finds […]
British Columbia is moving to slash the price of generic drugs, but in a way that avoids the nasty spat with big pharmacy witnessed in Ontario. Under an agreement between the province, the B.C. pharmacy association and the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores, generic drug prices in B.C. will drop to 35% of the […]