Latest news in Benefits Canada Archive

Whole Foods employees walk out, demanding paid sick leave

Whole Foods employees walk out, demanding paid sick leave

Whole Foods Market Inc. employees called in sick on Tuesday to demand paid leave for all workers who stay home to self-quarantine during the coronavirus.…

  • By: Staff
  • March 31, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:15
Ontario Teachers’ posts 10.4% gains for 2019, focuses on maintaining certainty

Ontario Teachers’ posts 10.4% gains for 2019, focuses on maintaining certainty

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan posted a net return of 10.4 per cent for 2019, bringing net assets to $207.4 billion. Its $20.2 billion in investment income represents…

Sun Life, Dialogue partner on free virtual care for plan members

Sun Life, Dialogue partner on free virtual care for plan members

Sun Life is partnering with telemedicine platform Dialogue to provide its group benefits plan members with free access to a virtual health-care service during the…

  • By: Staff
  • March 31, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:00
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Coronavirus, capital calls and liquidity in private market investments

In the current market environment, liquidity is top of mind for pension plans, says Jason Campbell, principal at Eckler Ltd. For example, despite a company’s…

  • By: Yaelle Gang
  • March 31, 2020 December 13, 2020
  • 13:12

Supporting employees’ workplace health, financial wellness during coronavirus

It’s the only story around these days. COVID-19 — the coronavirus — has broken out all over the world, leading to strain on health-care resources,…

Opportunities for small pension plans in Canada’s lower, middle private-equity market

For smaller pension funds looking to access private equity opportunities, the lower and middle part of the Canadian market should be very attractive, says Tracey…

  • By: Yaelle Gang
  • March 31, 2020 December 13, 2020
  • 07:57
Molson Coors launches paid leave programs during coronavirus

Molson Coors launches paid leave programs during coronavirus

Molson Coors Beverage Co. is providing all its North American employees with access to new paid leave programs during the coronavirus crisis. For employees who…

  • By: Staff
  • March 30, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:15
Unifor decries Co-op’s ‘final offer’ on pension, files unfair labour practices complaint

Unifor decries Co-op’s ‘final offer’ on pension, files unfair labour practices complaint

Recommendations from two provincially appointed special mediators have failed to quell the labour dispute between Federated Co-operatives Ltd. and the union representing its refinery employees. On Sunday, Unifor…

  • By: Staff
  • March 30, 2020 November 30, 2020
  • 15:00
Feds introduce 75% wage subsidy to help employers keep staff during coronavirus

Feds introduce 75% wage subsidy to help employers keep staff during coronavirus

The federal government is introducing a 75 per cent wage subsidy for companies of any size, charities and non-profits that have seen at least a 30 per…

  • By: Staff
  • March 30, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 14:45
Institutional investors must look ahead to future ESG issues

Institutional investors must look ahead to future ESG issues

To stay on the cutting edge of environmental, social and governance integration, institutional investors have to expand their focus beyond the factors that are material to a…

  • By: Staff
  • March 30, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 10:00
Ryerson provides virtual lunch and learns, remote work guide for staff during coronavirus

Ryerson provides virtual lunch and learns, remote work guide for staff during coronavirus

Ryerson University is taking a well-rounded approach toward supporting its staff and faculty who are working from home due to the coronavirus outbreak. The university…

Should early access to retirement funds be allowed due to coronavirus?

With many people around the world facing layoffs due to business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus, financial stress is pervasive. In Australia, the government is…

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Will coronavirus push changes to the CAP landscape forward?

With the federal government easing the withdrawal requirements for registered retirement income funds in a bid to alleviate the harm to retirees’ portfolios caused by…

La Presse reducing salaries, employer pension contributions

La Presse reducing salaries, employer pension contributions

La Presse is reducing all of its employees’ salaries by 10 per cent and temporarily lowering the employer’s contribution to the defined contribution pension plan.…

  • By: Staff
  • March 27, 2020 November 30, 2020
  • 15:45
Global employers preparing for future of work: survey

Global employers preparing for future of work: survey

The majority (61 per cent) of global employees believe their employers are preparing them for the future of work and 55 per cent said they…

  • By: Staff
  • March 27, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:30
U.S. employer health-care costs could rise 7% with coronavirus testing, treatment

U.S. employer health-care costs could rise 7% with coronavirus testing, treatment

As U.S. employers look to keep their workers safe and healthy in the face of the global pandemic, they could see their health-care benefits costs…

  • By: Staff
  • March 27, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:30
Conference coverage: 2020 Employers Cancer Care Summit

Conference coverage: 2020 Employers Cancer Care Summit

On March 3, the 2020 Employers Cancer Care Summit featured sessions on cancer-related issues and opportunities tied to benefits plans and the workplace. Many perspectives required when…

Many perspectives required when covering cancer drugs on benefits plans

Many perspectives required when covering cancer drugs on benefits plans

While treatment options for cancer are more than they used to be, many still aren’t covered under the public health-care system, according to Tim Clarke, president…

Immunotherapy innovations beneficial in kidney cancer treatment

Immunotherapy innovations beneficial in kidney cancer treatment

While kidney cancer is uncommon in patients younger than age 45, there’s an increasing incidence in diagnosis in young people because of the advent of imaging…

Flexible return-to-work policies crucial for cancer survivors

Flexible return-to-work policies crucial for cancer survivors

By the year 2031, 2.2 million Canadians will be living with cancer, with 40 per cent between the ages of 20 and 65 — the…

Fidelity Canada touts preventative, life-sustaining benefits plans

Fidelity Canada touts preventative, life-sustaining benefits plans

When it comes to benefits plan management, each case is individual, said Diana Godfrey, senior vice-president of human resources and corporate at Fidelity Canada, during…

Ignoring psychosocial oncology can be costly for organizations

Ignoring psychosocial oncology can be costly for organizations

When a person experiences a cancer diagnosis and undergoes treatment, it can be one of the most distressing experiences they can go through, so it’s…

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Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate target to 0.25%

The Bank of Canada cut its key interest target by half a percentage point to 0.25 per cent in an unscheduled rate announcement Friday. The…

Will coronavirus push changes to CAP landscape forward?

Will coronavirus push changes to CAP landscape forward?

With the federal government easing the withdrawal requirements for registered retirement income funds in a bid to alleviate the harm to retirees’ portfolios caused by…

Effective wellness programs must take science-based approach to motivating employees

Effective wellness programs must take science-based approach to motivating employees

Employers that want to see their wellness programs pay dividends need to develop a strategy that’s rooted in behavioural science. “This idea of ticking a…