Foundational or ‘workplace literacy’ skills — including communication, problem solving and digital competency — are becoming essential as employers struggle to find candidates who meet current labour market needs, says Alison Howard, executive director of ABC Life Literacy Canada. “Nearly half of working-age Canadians struggle with low literacy, and that is a major barrier to […]
More than half of Canadian women say they feel unprepared for menopause and nearly 60 per cent are unaware that symptoms such as anxiety, depression and memory issues are linked to this stage of life, according to a new report by GreenShield and Mental Health Research Canada. The report analyzed survey responses from more than […]
The federal government is investing $29.9 million in the Service Employees International Union Healthcare’s retirement savings program to strengthen retirement security for Canada’s homecare workers. The funding, announced earlier this month by SEIU Healthcare and Common Wealth alongside Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu, will provide more than 5,000 personal support workers and other […]
Three-quarters (75 per cent) of Canadian employees say they’d be more likely to stay with their current organization if benefits were more personalized and comprehensive, according to a new survey by Hub International Ltd. It found employers aren’t implementing the tailored programs needed to improve retention, despite personalization being a clear priority for employees. The […]
The majority (92 per cent) of U.S. employers offer some sort of educational benefit, with the most common being tuition assistance/repayment programs, according to a new survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. When the IFEBP last conducted this survey in 2019, only four per cent of employers said they offered a student […]
A third (33 per cent) of North American workers say they’re financially worse off than a year ago and have financial issues that are negatively impacting their lives, according to a new survey by WTW. The global survey, which polled 45,000 employees working for medium- and large-sized private sector organizations in 29 countries and territories, […]
A quarter (24 per cent) of U.S. employees who are in a caregiving role for both a child and dependent adult are more likely to say they want to leave their current job, according to a new survey by Principal Financial Group. The survey, which polled 500 employers and 500 employees, found 22 per cent […]
Over the past year, union negotiations have ramped up and wage settlements have reached new heights, mainly due to the fact that negotiations were set back by the coronavirus pandemic and the inflation that followed, says Douglas Porter, chief economist and managing director at BMO Financial Group. “Like night follows day, labour unrest and strike […]
When looking at the future of inclusive benefits, it’s important for employers to take a holistic approach and ensure their benefits plans offer something for everyone. “Whether you’re a recent university graduate, a parent, single or married, we try to support people wherever they’re at,” says Christine Tatham, chief people officer at Redbrick. “For us, it’s […]
The union representing 120 employees working across Canada for U.S. telecommunications company Zayo Group has ratified a four-year collective agreement that includes pension and benefits gains. Unifor Local 2000A was able to protect and maintain the company’s defined benefit pension plan; however, the employee contribution will increase from three per cent to 4.5 per cent. […]