June 2012

Governance/legislation

The pooled registered pension plan (PRPP)—proposed by the federal government in response to the lack of pension coverage across Canada—may also help to resolve employers’…

The shift to more complicated arrangements that require additional communication also means there is a greater role for advisors in the decision-making process.

Since its creation by the provincial government in 2006, the Nova Scotia Pension Agency (NSPA) (No. 21 in the 2012 Top 100 Pension Funds Report)…

Other

As Benefits Canada celebrates its 35th anniversary, we took the opportunity to go back to the source to explore why employers offer employee benefits programs…

The secret to Jim Micak’s satisfaction with his benefits plan is an employee survey. The president and CEO of DPRA Canada and corporate director of…

On April 23 and 24, 2012, Benefits Canada hosted its annual Benefits & Pension Summit. More than 450 delegates attended to hear the latest in…

There are a number of reasons why employers should ensure that workers over the age of 50 remain actively employed with their organization. Nobody wants…

Health benefits

In honour of Benefits Canada’s 35th anniversary, we took the opportunity to go back to the source to explore why employers offer employee benefits programs.…

Psoriasis—a chronic skin problem that affects about 3% of the Canadian population, or about a million people—can cost a company up to $2,200 per affected…

While senior decision-makers agree that health benefits and retirement plans play a significant role in keeping employees happy and engaged, there is a disconnect when…

Perhaps not surprisingly, cost is the main driver for senior decision-makers when it comes to their pension and benefits plans.

“I’m going to irritate a lot of people today,” began Dee Edington, keynote speaker on health management as a serious business strategy, at the Benefits…

Health/wellness

Psoriasis—a chronic skin problem that affects about 3% of the Canadian population, or about a million people—can cost a company up to $2,200 per affected…

Most organizations will see mental disorders as one of the top two categories on their drug utilization reports, and those conditions tend to be trending…

When employee engagement in health succeeds—whether through social media or integrated programs—the outcomes are invaluable for both employers and employees.

With the aging population and increase in chronic disease—coupled with the rise in pharmaceutical costs and growing mental health concerns—it’s more crucial than ever to…

When Katherine Sheehan, assistant vice-president, HR, with Dalhousie University, started at the institution, she found there were a number of wellness initiatives across campus.

Bill Wilkerson’s career has been a series of accidents, he says, starting with the day he was expelled from high school for starting a water…

When organizations focus on supporting their employees to be healthier, the health of the business improves, too. At Benefits Canada’s 2012 Healthy Outcomes Conference in…

“I’m going to irritate a lot of people today,” began Dee Edington, keynote speaker on health management as a serious business strategy, at the Benefits…

No matter what language organizations use—layoffs, restructuring, downsizing or reorganization—whenever employees are let go, a sense of disengagement and loss of trust can develop among…

No matter what language organizations use—layoffs, restructuring, downsizing or reorganization—whenever employees are let go, a sense of disengagement and loss of trust can develop among…

Uncategorized

Can you believe it’s been 35 years already? In honour of Benefits Canada’s 35th anniversary, we decided it was time to go back to our…

Capital accumulation plans

People don’t consciously control a lot of their behaviour. For plan sponsors, this is frustrating, because getting employees engaged in benefits and retirement plans is…

The CBC/Radio-Canada Pension plan has led the way with its LDI strategy, but public sector plans have also faced some tough critics and even tougher…

Over the past 73 years, the Co-operative Superannuation Society Pension Plan (CSS plan) (No. 60 on Benefits Canada’s 2012 Top 100 Pension Funds Report) has…

Defined benefit pensions

The CBC/Radio-Canada Pension plan has led the way with its LDI strategy, but public sector plans have also faced some tough critics and even tougher…

Likewise, the CBC/Radio-Canada Pension Plan, launched a half-century ago, became something of a pioneer when it adopted a liability driven investing (LDI) approach in 2005.

In a world where markets turn on a dime, the underlying economic fundamentals are often shoved to the side. “Diamonds are forever,” noted Avery Shenfeld,…

Since its creation by the provincial government in 2006, the Nova Scotia Pension Agency (NSPA) (No. 21 in the 2012 Top 100 Pension Funds Report)…

At the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT) Pension Plan (No. 29), those charged with overseeing the retirement savings of nearly 34,000 plan members…

After stronger market performances in 2009 and 2010, returns took a turn for the worse in 2011. The TSX declined by 11%, and lower interest…

Benefits Canada News

The shift to more complicated arrangements that require additional communication also means there is a greater role for advisors in the decision-making process.

When employee engagement in health succeeds—whether through social media or integrated programs—the outcomes are invaluable for both employers and employees.

Bill Wilkerson’s career has been a series of accidents, he says, starting with the day he was expelled from high school for starting a water…

The CBC/Radio-Canada Pension plan has led the way with its LDI strategy, but public sector plans have also faced some tough critics and even tougher…

No matter what language organizations use—layoffs, restructuring, downsizing or reorganization—whenever employees are let go, a sense of disengagement and loss of trust can develop among…

Over the past 73 years, the Co-operative Superannuation Society Pension Plan (CSS plan) (No. 60 on Benefits Canada’s 2012 Top 100 Pension Funds Report) has…

In 1977 the Benefits Canada tree was planted in the industry.