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Editorial: Looking back — and ahead — in an unprecedented year

Editorial: The fourth trimester and the benefits plan

As any new parent can attest to, those early hours, days and weeks with a new baby are beyond challenging. In the fourth trimester (a…

Head to head: Should a hybrid work model be the new normal post-pandemic?

Two human resources experts weigh in on the future of white-collar work once the coronavirus crisis is under control. Carolyn Byer, head of HR for…

Twitter adapting fitness benefit to help employees stay active, connected amid pandemic

Since shifting its employees to remote working at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Twitter Inc. adapted its fitness reimbursement benefit to the new virtual…

2021 Top 100 Pension Funds Report: DB plans shining bright amid pandemic clouds

If there was a Hall of Fame for catastrophic years, 2020 would be a certainty for admission, with Canada among many nations around the globe…

How will the potential work-from-anywhere boom post-pandemic impact benefits plans?

Since the global coronavirus pandemic prompted a move to remote working, white-collar employees are looking at jurisdictions from Nova Scotia to Bermuda, enticed by a…

How Canada’s pension funds are maximizing fixed income in a low interest rate environment

With bond returns tied to interest rates, it’s no surprise Canadian pension funds are increasingly seeking other ways to boost fixed income yields. Canadian interest…

AIMCo beats fixed income benchmarks with innovation, flexibility

It isn’t an easy time to be a fixed income investor. After a volatile year that included a severe liquidity squeeze in the spring of…

Back to basics on insurance-linked securities

As institutional investors seek portfolio diversification and the insurance industry seeks additional capacity amid global growth, investment strategies incorporating insurance-linked securities are providing a solution…

Why you should hire a manager of accessibility

In hiring its first manager of accessibility, Rogers Communications Inc. isn’t only ensuring it’s compliant with federal legislation, the company is also integrating the practice…

Q&A with Citigroup’s Christine Discola

Citigroup Inc.’s director and country human resources officer discusses encouraging employee self-care, making CANnections and cooking for friends and family. Q: What top challenges do…

Editorial: Enthusiasm for virtual health care stretching into paramedical sector

There’s a reason so many episodes of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm penned by Larry David revolve around the annoyances of medical appointments. To paraphrase…

Head to head: Should plan sponsors buy annuities via insurers or go DIY?

Two experts weigh in on the merits and drawbacks of taking the traditional annuities route versus opting for the newer do-it-yourself option. Marco Dickner, retirement…

How Algonquin College is stepping up its absence management program

When Algonquin College decided to streamline its absence management process in 2019, it was important to partner with a provider that would go beyond merely…

Paramedical benefits sector riding virtual health care wave

It all started with a mechanical bull and too much tequila. Mike McClenahan wasn’t initially sold on virtual physiotherapy when he first met with Phzio,…

Pension solvency measures helping plan sponsors through pandemic and beyond

While solvency funding relief helped Canada’s pension funds withstand the turbulence of 2020, a long-term vision with an eye to a more robust funding framework…

2021 Top 40 Money Managers Report: Building back strong

Investors breathed a sigh of relief as they turned over their calendars at the end of 2020. Few were sorry to see the back of…

Provident10 paints new path on ‘blank canvas’ following pension reform

A defined benefit pension plan leader rarely gets to work with a “blank canvas,” but Chuck Bruce has taken that unique opportunity and drawn a…

Focusing on employee experience helping build new, improved work culture

Amid the second (and hopefully last) year of the coronavirus pandemic, employers are starting to plan for the post-pandemic future. On March 11, 2020, the…

Q&A with Scotiabank’s Ayman Alvi

Scotiabank’s director of global benefits talks navigating the coronavirus pandemic, enhancing the employee experience and planning for the post-pandemic workplace. Q: What top challenges do…

HOOPP, Social Capital Partners financing Taylor Guitars’ move to 100% employee-ownership

Taylor Guitars is moving to a 100 per cent employee-ownership model with the help of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan and Canadian non-profit Social…

Editorial: Helping turn retirement dreams into reality pays off

Remember those Freedom 55 ads that always seemed to be on TV in the ‘80s and ‘90s? I recently went down a YouTube rabbit hole…

Head to head: Should employers allow staff to carry over their annual paramedical coverage?

With many employees pausing paramedical care during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, two benefits experts weigh in on letting workers carry coverage over to 2021. Kevin…

How Citigroup is using leave policies to support employees amid the pandemic

As the effects of the coronavirus pandemic reshape the Canadian workplace and employees struggle to maintain a sense of normalcy, Citigroup Inc. is preparing for…

2021 Drug Plan Trends Report: Diving deep into pros and cons of drug pooling

Specialty drugs can significantly improve (or even save) an employee’s life, but can come at a high cost. Over the past few decades, many employers…