BMO Financial Group expects North American economies will go through a shallow recession in 2023, according to Douglas Porter, the bank’s chief economist and managing director, during a session at the Canadian Investment Review‘s 2022 Defined Benefit Investment Forum. “I would give it a 25 per cent chance that central banks can still negotiate this without one. […]
With the coronavirus pandemic and rising inflation causing economic uncertainty, capital accumulation plan sponsors are looking for new ways to help their members feel secure and get the most out of their savings plans. Benefits Canada asked CAP sponsors and other industry experts what’s on their wish lists to make these plans more effective and engaging […]
Amazon Canada is prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility by working closely with its People With Disabilities employee resource group and adding supports such as internal sign language interpreters. “One of the things we’ve really focused on is building a sense of belonging and demonstrating that we value our employees and the diversity of [our workforce],” says […]
The union representing about 1,100 Jazz Aviation employees has ratified a five-year collective agreement that includes pension enhancements and bereavement leave. The agreement includes an additional employer contribution of one per cent to the defined contribution plan, effective Jan. 1, 2023, for employees with 15 years or more of service. It also includes five days of […]
Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. is providing employees with coverage for egg freezing and expanding some fertility allowances, as well as introducing gender affirmation coverage. “This is something we’re really proud of because it’s part of our global diversity, equity and inclusion strategy,” says Ksenia Kamenskaya, director of people and culture at RBH. “We want […]
Employers planning to incentivize non-smoking employees should align these perks with a broader health and well-being strategy and ensure the rewards are significant enough to make behaviour change appealing for smokers, says Kim Siddall, vice-president of enterprise consulting for the West at People Corporation. Possible incentives include additional vacation time, increased credits in a health-care […]
Thomson Reuters Corp. is supporting employee well-being with a new policy that allows workers to choose how many vacation days they take each year. Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, employees in Canada and the U.S. can take vacation time as needed to work on personal well-being, to travel or pursue personal interests. The vacation policy is part […]
Big Bang ERP Inc. is marking Giving Tuesday by encouraging its employees to volunteer in their communities through a paid day for volunteering. The initiative is part of the consulting firm’s SoWell committee, which encourages employees to organize team volunteer outings focused on wellness and social interaction. Anna Romanowski, corporate development manager at Big Bang, says the […]
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is supporting employee wellness with a new platform that focuses on healthy lifestyle tips and group well-being challenges. The platform allows employees to access a variety of health and wellness resources from anywhere, get personalized well-being information created by experts and learn easy ways to be more active and […]
The FIRE concept — financial independence and retiring early — is gaining traction among younger workers, but as appealing as early retirement may be, it isn’t very realistic given the current economic conditions, according to experts. Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald, director of financial security research for the National Institute on Ageing at Toronto Metropolitan University, notes the population […]