Starbucks Coffee Co. is offering eligible employees in the U.S. access to 20 free mental-health sessions per year beginning April 6. Through provider Lyra Health Inc., employees will be able to meet with a therapist or coach in-person or via video. They’ll also be able to access self-guided online programs recommended by the provider based […]
As public capital markets roil in the turbulence caused by the coronavirus pandemic, private markets aren’t immune from challenges, said a recent report from PitchBook Data Inc. “As we enter into the most significant market drawdown and economic shock we’ve seen since the financial crisis, PE is equipped to help alleviate pressures, but it will […]
Paid leave from work is the first financial line of defence during a crisis preventing employees from coming to work. For one, it guards against the complexities of having to navigate employment insurance, according to a new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. But as the effects of the coronavirus ripple across the […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has completed its purchase of all outstanding common shares of Pattern Energy Group Inc. Pattern is no longer traded on the NASDAQ and will shortly be de-listed from the Toronto Stock Exchange. The CPPIB bought each outstanding share for $26.75 in cash. Read: CPPIB buying U.S.-based renewable energy developer “Pattern Energy has a high-quality operating portfolio of contracted […]
The chief executive officers of several major Canadian pension funds have joined forces with several other CEOs to ask Canadian business leaders to make the slowdown of the spread of the coronavirus their main priority. “International experience demonstrates that social distancing is the only effective method and is in the best interests of our employees, […]
Air Canada’s domestic registered defined pension plans are expected to maintain a “significant pension solvency surplus,” according to a press release. On Monday, the Montreal-headquartered airline withdrew its previously announced first quarter and full year 2020 guidance, as well as its full year 2021 guidance. The ongoing coronavirus crisis means Air Canada “is facing a […]
Green Shield Canada is launching a benefits plan analytics tool to help plan sponsors take a closer look at their offerings. The tool, DATAleap, looks to provide insight on claims trends, key cost drivers and disease state data. It also provides benchmarking tools for plans and demographics analyses. Read: Harnessing analytics, data to support employee mental health “Users can […]
Canadian employer pension plans saw the market value of their assets increase 1.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2019, up from the previous quarter, according to new data from Statistics Canada. The value of assets was also up 7.3 per cent in comparison to the third quarter of 2018. Bonds saw the highest value gain in the […]
Since the point of an editorial is to create a discussion on the trends and issues affecting our industry, I was glad to see my latest — in the January/February issue — sparked a good debate. The print edition of Benefits Canada doesn’t have a Letters to the Editor section, so I’m compiling all the […]
While fewer than half (42 per cent) of U.S. employers are currently offering financial wellness programs, that number is set to almost double to 80 per cent by 2023, according to a survey by the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. The survey, which questioned nearly 900 U.S. employers, found 90 per cent of respondents said their primary reason for […]