Latest news in Benefits Canada News

How preferred pharmacy networks can lower drug plan costs, boost access to care

Pharmacists are now uniquely positioned to support Canadians at a time when the public health-care system is stretched thin, creating significant barriers for people looking…

A closer look at growing asthma drug spend

Many Canadians living with asthma are experiencing poor control over their symptoms, impacting the workplace, said Anjila Arora, director of pharmaceutical benefits at Sun Life…

How plan sponsors can improve employee health outcomes while optimizing drug plan spend

With chronic conditions growing in prevalence among plan members, plan sponsors have their work cut out for them in designing benefits plans that provide adequate…

Examining the link between cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity

While medications for three interconnected chronic conditions — cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity — represent a growing proportion of employers’ drug spend, there’s plenty that…

How plan sponsors can use biosimilars to support employee health, reduce drug costs

Despite the safety and efficacy of biosimilars — and the potential cost savings they offer — uptake among private payers has been low historically and is only starting to…

Plan sponsors, private payers can work together to help employees with rare diseases access novel treatments

It’s important for private payers and employers to be nimble and innovative to support plan members seeking access to novel drugs and treatments by addressing…

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Survey finds two-fifths of U.S. employees didn’t receive a raise in the last year

Two-fifths of U.S. employees say they didn’t receive a raise in the last year and those who did received raises that were 25 per cent…

  • By: Staff
  • January 19, 2024 January 19, 2024
  • 15:00
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Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

An article on how the federal government should ensure its new Canadian Dental Care Plan doesn’t displace existing employer-sponsored dental coverage was the most-read story…

  • By: Staff
  • January 19, 2024 January 18, 2024
  • 09:00

Decision raises questions about dependent contractors’ entitlement to reasonable notice

A recent Canada Industrial Relations Board decision has raised questions about the threshold that individuals must meet to be considered dependent contractors who are therefore…

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68% of global employers view talent attraction, economic growth uncertainty as business threats: survey

More than two-thirds of global employers view the lack of key talent and uncertain economic growth (68 per cent for both) as the top threats…

  • By: Staff
  • January 19, 2024 January 18, 2024
  • 09:00

Ontario Teachers’ co-sponsoring new Indian renewable energy fund, OPTrust considers selling stake in Spain transport infrastructure company

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is co-sponsoring a new India-based infrastructure investment trust holding assets in the renewable energy space. The new fund raised US$165…

  • By: Staff
  • January 18, 2024 January 18, 2024
  • 11:00

PIAC focusing on pension solvency uniformity, CAPSA risk management guidelines in 2024

The Pension Investment Association of Canada will concentrate its legislative advocacy efforts on funding reform in 2024, including for an overhaul of long-term, minimum funding…

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Some institutional investors asking fund managers to release capital before committing to more funding

Some institutional investors are telling private equity managers they’ll only commit to upcoming fund raises if their capital tied up in old funds is released,…

  • By: Staff
  • January 18, 2024 January 17, 2024
  • 09:00
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2023 Investment Innovation Conference: The importance of proprietary data in technology, AI investments

When investing in technology companies with artificial intelligence capabilities, it’s important that institutional investors ensure these entities own — or have relationships with large internet…

Majority of Canadian employees satisfied with their job: Stats Can

On a scale of one to 10, the majority (80 per cent) of Canadian employees rate their level of job satisfaction between seven and 10,…

  • By: Staff
  • January 17, 2024 January 17, 2024
  • 15:00

Tax credit could ensure national dental-care plan doesn’t displace employer-sponsored coverage: expert

With the new Canadian Dental Care Plan rolling out, it’s critical that it doesn’t displace existing employer-sponsored dental coverage, says Stephen Frank, president and chief…

  • By: Sadie Janes
  • January 17, 2024 January 16, 2024
  • 09:00

My Take: More financial literacy needed to help employees achieve retirement goals

The skyrocketing cost of living has created increased need for employees to receive additional financial well-being information to meet their retirement savings goals. It’s increasingly…

Half of Canadian retirees receiving less than $50K per year from employer-sponsored pension plan: survey

More than half (53 per cent) of Canadian retirees say they’re receiving, or will receive, less than $50,000 in annual retirement income from their employer-sponsored…

  • By: Staff
  • January 16, 2024 January 16, 2024
  • 15:00
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Expert panel: Risk management, target-benefit framework among themes shaping pension industry in 2024

While it’s impossible to predict exactly how pension case law will evolve in future, one can offer an educated guess at some legislative developments and…

Global REITs expected to outperform in 2024 due to lack of supply, resilient corporate valuations: report

After two years of underperformance, global real estate investment trusts are expected to outperform in 2024 due to a decline of supply and resilient corporate…

  • By: Staff
  • January 15, 2024 January 15, 2024
  • 15:00
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A quarter of U.S. employers won’t or may not provide raises in 2024: survey

Three-quarters (74 per cent) of U.S. employers say they plan to give employees raises in 2024, while 18 per cent are undecided and eight per…

  • By: Staff
  • January 15, 2024 January 15, 2024
  • 15:00

51% of U.S. workers want employers to cover health-care premiums as financial benefit: survey

More than half (51 per cent) of U.S. workers say they’d like to see fully paid health-care premiums as a financial benefit from their company,…

  • By: Staff
  • January 15, 2024 January 12, 2024
  • 09:00

Employers can improve benefits communication, highlight mental-health support for ‘Blue Monday’

Employers can use the time surrounding ‘Blue Monday’ to ensure they’re communicating properly with employees and highlighting mental-health supports, says Gianna Ricciardi, vice-president and practice…

  • By: Sadie Janes
  • January 15, 2024 January 12, 2024
  • 09:00

Ontario Teachers’ making key appointments to executive team

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is making four key appointments to its executive team, effective immediately. The investment organization has appointed Stephen McLennan as chief…

  • By: Staff
  • January 12, 2024 January 12, 2024
  • 15:00

Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

A story on mental-health themes and challenges for 2024 was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension…

  • By: Staff
  • January 12, 2024 January 11, 2024
  • 09:00