More than two-fifths (42 per cent) of workers feel exhausted after work; with a quarter citing excessive workload as the leading cause of their burnout, according to Telus Health’s latest mental-health index. The survey found Canadians’ overall mental-health score declined to 64.0, down from 64.4 in March. Indeed, respondents also cited too many personal demands (20 […]
U.S. pension risk transfer sales reached US$14.6 billion in the first quarter of 2024, a 130 per cent increase from the same period in 2023, according to a report by LIMRA. Single-premium buy-out sales totalled $14.2 billion in the first quarter, up 124 per cent from this period in 2023. There were 146 contracts sold […]
The average projected solvency ratio for Ontario defined benefit pension plans was 122 per cent as of March 31, 2024, up three per cent from Dec. 31, 2023, according to a new report by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario. It found 90 per cent of DB plans were projected to be fully funded […]
Benefits Canada is extending the deadline for entering the 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards to Friday, July 5 at 5 p.m. EST. The original industry awards program has been recognizing employers and plan sponsors for more than 20 years, highlighting their innovative approaches to supporting the mental, physical and financial well-being of their employees. Enter the 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is investing $500 million in National Bank of Canada to support its acquisition strategy for Canadian Western Bank. The acquisition deal is worth $5 billion and will give National Bank a presence in Western Canada. Following the Caisse’s investment in National Bank, it will become the second […]
Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of U.S. employees are choosing to stay with their employers, a significant change from 2022 when 53 per cent were looking to leave, according to a new survey by WTW. The survey, which polled 10,000 U.S. workers, found, while a quarter were open to offers in 2022, only 11 per […]
An article detailing a stark increase in the use of obesity medications among Canadian employer-sponsored benefits plan members was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the past week: 1. Claims for obesity drugs increased 42% in 2023, 92% since 2020: report 2. How […]
Canadian-based fixed income assets rallied in the first quarter of 2024 as the likelihood of interest rate cuts from global central authorities increases, according to a new report by FTSE Russell. It noted improved inflation data helped boost the results from Canadian long, corporate and real return bonds in May. While Canadian high-yield credit gained […]
Nearly half (45 per cent) of U.S. employees say they’ve experienced burnout, down from 58 per cent in August 2020, according to a new survey by Eagle Hill Consulting. The survey, which polled more than 1,200 employees, found women (49 per cent) continued to report higher levels of burnout than men (41 per cent). Across generations, […]
The University Pension Plan generated a net return of 10.2 per cent in 2023, up from a 9.1 per cent loss in 2022, according to its latest annual report. As of Dec. 31, 2023, the investment organization’s net assets increased to $11.7 billion, up from $10.8 billion in 2022. It also reported a funded status […]