Benefits Canada.com https://www.benefitscanada.com Canada's most influential pension and benefits publication for decision-makers Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:51:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 Ontario to do away with sick note requirement for short absences https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-wellness/ontario-to-do-away-with-sick-note-requirement-for-short-absences/ Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:00:48 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=154638 Ontario will do away with sick note requirements for short absences as part of a larger effort to ease the administrative burden on doctors. The province will soon introduce legislation that, if passed, will no longer allow employers to require a sick note from a doctor for the provincially protected three days of sick leave […]

The post Ontario to do away with sick note requirement for short absences appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> Ontario court sides with IBM in pension benefits rectification case https://www.benefitscanada.com/pensions/governance-law/ontario-court-sides-with-ibm-in-pension-benefits-rectification-case/ Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:00:25 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=154599 An Ontario Superior Court ruling that allowed IBM Canada Ltd. to retrospectively rectify drafting errors that created unintended additional pension benefits for employees on disability leave augurs well for plan sponsors seeking similar relief going forward. “The case clarifies that there is a specific test for rectification of pension plans and other unilateral instruments, which […]

The post Ontario court sides with IBM in pension benefits rectification case appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> Diabetes medications remain leading drug category for eligible claims in 2023: report https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/diabetes-medications-remain-leading-drug-category-for-eligible-claims-in-2023-report/ Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:00:23 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=154574 In 2023, diabetes medications remained the leading drug category for eligible private insurance claims for the second consecutive year, according to Telus Health’s annual drug trends report. The report, based on claims data from more than 15 million plan members in 2023, found the growing prevalence of diabetes, along with expanded heart failure treatment indications and […]

The post Diabetes medications remain leading drug category for eligible claims in 2023: report appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> WISE Trust returns 7.9% in 2023, net assets increase to $4 billion https://www.benefitscanada.com/canadian-investment-review/db-investments/wise-trust-returns-7-9-in-2023-net-assets-increase-to-4-billion/ Tue, 23 Apr 2024 19:00:50 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=154567 The Workplace Insurance and Safety Employees Trust generated a net return of 7.9 per cent in 2023, with net assets reaching $4 billion, up from $3.8 billion in 2022, according to its latest report. In a press release, Christopher Brown, WISE Trust’s chief executive officer, said the results are a testament to its partnership with […]

The post WISE Trust returns 7.9% in 2023, net assets increase to $4 billion appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> 43% of U.S. workers would rather get a divorce than return to office: survey https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-wellness/43-of-u-s-workers-would-rather-get-a-divorce-than-return-to-office-survey/ Tue, 23 Apr 2024 19:00:31 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=154558 Two-fifths (43 per cent) of U.S. employees say they’re more afraid of working in an office full time than of losing their romantic relationship or getting a divorce, according to a new survey by LiveCareer. The survey, which polled more than 3,800 employees, also found many workers are more fearful of the prospect of full-time […]

The post 43% of U.S. workers would rather get a divorce than return to office: survey appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> Expert panel: How institutional investors are adapting to a post-pandemic global economy https://www.benefitscanada.com/canadian-investment-review/alts/expert-panel-how-institutional-investors-are-adapting-to-a-post-pandemic-global-economy/ Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:00:12 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=154441 Renowned American businessman and investor Charlie Munger once said, “You have to keep learning if you want to become a great investor. When the world changes you must change.” The world has changed and institutional investors will need to have a plan and be ready to face new challenges. The 30 years prior to the […]

The post Expert panel: How institutional investors are adapting to a post-pandemic global economy appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> Average funded ratio of Canadian DB pension plans up 7% in Q1 2024: report https://www.benefitscanada.com/pensions/defined-benefit-pensions/average-funded-ratio-of-canadian-db-pension-plans-up-7-in-q1-2024-reports/ Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:00:03 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=154482 The funded ratio of the average Canadian defined benefit pension plan, excluding the effect of asset smoothing, reached 124 per cent as at March 31, 2024, up seven per cent from the fourth quarter of 2023, according to a new report by Normandin Beaudry. It found the average solvency ratio of Canadian pension plans was […]

The post Average funded ratio of Canadian DB pension plans up 7% in Q1 2024: report appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> AIMCo returns 6.9% in 2023, driven by equities, fixed income https://www.benefitscanada.com/canadian-investment-review/research-markets/aimco-returns-6-9-in-2023-driven-by-equities-fixed-income/ Mon, 22 Apr 2024 19:00:11 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=154526 The Alberta Investment Management Corp.’s total fund generated a net return of 6.9 per cent in 2023, 1.8 percentage points below its 8.7 per cent benchmark. As of Dec. 31, 2023, the AIMCo’s total assets under management were $160.6 billion, compared  to $158 billion in 2022. Its balanced fund generated a net return of eight per […]

The post AIMCo returns 6.9% in 2023, driven by equities, fixed income appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> 69% of U.S. employees say they’d be happier if they had deeper connections with co-workers: survey https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-wellness/69-of-u-s-employees-say-theyd-be-happier-if-they-had-deeper-connections-with-co-workers-survey/ Mon, 22 Apr 2024 13:00:52 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=154500 More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of U.S. employees say they’d be happier if they had deeper connections with work colleagues, according to a survey by technology company Nectar. The survey, which polled 800 U.S. employees, found while a majority (85 per cent) chat with someone outside of their department regularly, just two-fifths speak with someone […]

The post 69% of U.S. employees say they’d be happier if they had deeper connections with co-workers: survey appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> Ontario Teachers’ considers selling seniors’ residence operator, Ivanhoé Cambridge forms Australian student housing joint venture https://www.benefitscanada.com/canadian-investment-review/alts/ontario-teachers-considers-selling-seniors-residence-operator-ivanhoe-cambridge-forms-australian-student-housing-joint-venture/ Fri, 19 Apr 2024 19:00:26 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=154426 The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is considering selling Amica Senior Lifestyles in a deal that could be worth $5 billion, according to report by Bloomberg. The Ontario Teachers’ acquired the senior luxury residence operator in 2015 through a transaction by its subsidiary BayBridge Seniors Housing Inc., which includes more than 30 assets in British Columbia and Ontario. […]

The post Ontario Teachers’ considers selling seniors’ residence operator, Ivanhoé Cambridge forms Australian student housing joint venture appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]>