A majority of global employees say they feel more productive (84 per cent) and more connected to their teams (82 per cent) while working in hybrid or remote working environments than those working onsite, according to a new survey by Zoom Video Communications Inc. The survey, which polled more than 600 C-suite leaders and nearly […]
The funded position of a typical Canadian defined benefit pension plan rose on both a solvency and accounting basis in July, according to Telus Health’s latest pension index. It found the solvency of the average DB plan rose to 107.8 per cent, up from 107.6 per cent in June, while the accounting index increased from […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is investing $575 million in Montreal-based natural gas company Énergir. The investment, which will be made in partnership with the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, is designed to fund a decarbonization and resilience strategy at Énergir and will fund renewable energy projects and renewable natural gas production plants, according […]
An article announcing the finalists in the 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Who are the finalists of the 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards? 2. Ford, Lowes among employers pulling back from DEI policies 3. 68% […]
The market volume of annuity purchases by Canadian defined benefit pension plan sponsors reached an estimated $2.5 billion in the second quarter of 2024, compared to $1.1 billion in the previous quarter, according to a new report by Telus Health. While plan sponsors that are poised for upcoming transactions have an advantageous position, insurers are […]
Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of U.S. employees use artificial intelligence tools to double-check their work, instead of tasks such as initial project research and data analysis (46 per cent), according to a new survey by software company Slingshot. The survey, which polled more than 250 U.S. employees and employers, found employees’ basic use of AI […]
While the median investment management fee paid by institutional investors for private equity deals during the investment period is between 1.75 per cent and two per cent, it drops only slightly to between 1.72 per cent to 1.96 per cent following the investment period, according to a new report from Callan. The report analyzed more than 400 private […]
Benefits Canada is pleased to announce the finalists of the 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards. Across nearly 100 entries in 12 categories, leading Canadian employers demonstrated their accomplishments in supporting their employees’ physical, mental and financial well-being. The winners will be announced on Friday, Oct. 18 at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto during the 2024 Healthy Outcomes Conference, an in-person event intended for employers […]
The Alberta Investment Management Corp. says there has been declining support for shareholder proposals linked to environmental and social factors, while support has increased for governance proposals centred around shareholder rights, according to the investment organization’s latest stewardship report. It cited increased scrutiny of ESG issues as a factor in the decline and noted the AIMCO […]
The end of the federal government’s real return bond program will deprive institutional investors and pension plan members of a valuable investment tool that can help protect against inflation, according to a new report by the C.D. Howe Institute. It found a majority of Canada’s largest institutional investors are interested in investing in real return bonds and […]