Home Kelsey Rolfe

Meal-kit companies encouraging healthy eating habits among employees

To improve employee health and nutrition habits, HelloFresh Canada is taking staff out of the kitchen and into an online classroom — and then back into the kitchen. Employees of the Toronto-based meal-kit company can take interactive health and wellness courses through an online wellness portal to accumulate credits towards purchasing wellness rewards. The courses include modules on improving […]

  • November 28, 2019 November 12, 2020
  • 09:30

How employers are supporting employees’ financial literacy

It’s no surprise that FreshBooks takes its employees’ financial literacy seriously. The Toronto-based accounting software firm regularly holds lunch-and-learn workshops and hosts subject manner experts on a wide range of financial wellness topics, including investing basics and ethical investing, mortgages, building up savings and several aspects of tax preparation during tax season. It also offers […]

  • November 27, 2019 November 12, 2020
  • 09:00

A look at medical cannabis coverage’s growing pains

After the Arthritis Society’s extensive advocacy for medical cannabis research, it seemed only natural for the organization to cover the drug under its employee benefits plan. In 2017, as it prepared to introduce the coverage, it brought together an expert panel, including doctors with extensive experience prescribing medical cannabis and expert pharmacists and advisors from […]

  • November 22, 2019 December 11, 2020
  • 08:57

Q&A with the City of Toronto’s Hatem Belhi

The City of Toronto’s director of pensions, payroll and employee benefits discusses pension changes, data technology and being a soccer dad. Q. What top challenges do you face in your role? A. We’re going through a large transformation in the division and that impacts a lot of areas, so basically looking at the programs, the […]

  • November 22, 2019 March 6, 2021
  • 08:51

CPPIB sustainability report shows increased investments in renewable energy

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has dramatically increased its investments in renewable energy companies, from $30 million in 2016 to $3 billion as of June 2019, according to its annual sustainable investing report. The substantial increase is part of the fund’s expanded climate change program. “We have a number of groups involved in efforts […]

  • November 8, 2019 November 12, 2020
  • 09:05

CPPIB sustainability report highlights increased renewable energy investments, board diversity efforts

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has dramatically increased its investments in renewable energy companies, from $30 million in 2016 to $3 billion as of June 2019, according to its annual sustainable investing report. The substantial increase is part of the fund’s expanded climate change program. “We have a number of groups involved in efforts […]

  • November 8, 2019 November 11, 2020
  • 09:00

Which global bonds to consider in today’s interest rate environment

As market uncertainty causes a slowdown in Europe’s economy, an accommodating central bank and negative interest rates are making its bond markets more attractive to institutional investors than those in the United States. “Europe is a very export-led economy and Germany, in particular, is driven by exports to the rest of the world,” said Rod […]

  • November 7, 2019 November 12, 2020
  • 09:30

Can machine learning help active managers outperform passive peers?

Active investors should combine their own analytical work with the use of machine learning to get a leg up on their passive peers, according to a new paper. Fiona Frick, Unigestion’s chief executive officer, argued that, in an environment where institutional investors are using the same strategies and no one is left with an edge, active managers should use “collaborative […]

  • November 5, 2019 November 12, 2020
  • 09:30

Will new changes to federal insolvency laws protect retirees?

Pensions have been imperilled by corporate insolvency before, but three new amendments to federal laws may create stronger protections for employees and retirees. Changes to the Canada Business Corporations Act went into immediate effect after receiving royal assent in June, and amendments to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act take effect today. Further […]

  • November 1, 2019 November 30, 2020
  • 09:30

Award finalists talk employee engagement, return on investment

When it comes to engaging employees on matters of financial and personal wellness, it’s increasingly clear one size no longer fits all. In a roundtable in Toronto on Oct. 17, the 2019 Workplace Benefits Awards finalists focused their discussion on how to make sure their various programs and communication efforts were resonating with the multiple generations and […]

  • October 31, 2019 November 11, 2020
  • 08:45