The world of work is shifting at an unprecedented pace. Advancements in technology, evolving regulatory requirements, and rising employee expectations are transforming the way organizations design and deliver total rewards. At the same time, total rewards teams are expected to navigate these increasing complexities with fewer resources and tighter budgets. The challenge ahead will be […]
Only a quarter of global employees felt appreciated at work in 2025, according to a new report from the Achievers Workforce Institute. The survey, which polled roughly 2,500 employees and 1,500 human resources professionals across eight countries, found only 25 per cent of workers saw a long career with their employer and 34 per cent […]
Economic headwinds, cost pressures and shifting employee expectations are forcing organizations to rethink performance compensation. Traditional pay-for-performance models, built for more predictable business cycles, are showing signs of strain. Many leaders are now asking a difficult but necessary question: are salary increases and incentive awards still tied to performance, or have they evolved into entitlements? […]
While emerging forms of artificial intelligence such as agentic AI may hold promises and challenges for pension plan sponsors, the human touch remains important when advising plan members on financial decisions, said Francis Boulianne, principal in Normandin Beaudry’s group benefits practice, during a recent webinar hosted by the consultancy. “[Chatbots] were never intended to replace […]
Canadian employees’ average level of workplace happiness reached 6.9 points out of 10 in October, up 0.3 points from the same month last year, according to a new survey by ADP Canada. It found 70 per cent of workers said fun and social moments at work play a meaningful role in their overall happiness. Nearly […]
Canadian employers’ 2026 salary budgets are projected to rise by an average of 3.1 per cent, down slightly from the 3.2 per cent allocated in 2025, according to a new survey by Normandin Beaudry. The survey, which polled more than 1,000 employers, found 42 per cent plan on granting an average additional budget of 0.9 […]
An article announcing the finalists of the 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Who are the finalists of the 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards? 2. Employee’s termination following mental-health leave not discriminatory: […]
Nearly 70 per cent of Canadian employers expect economic factors will have a moderate to significant impact on their compensation decisions in 2026, according to Mercer’s latest compensation planning survey. The survey, which polled more than 500 Canadian companies in July, found employers are focusing on salary benchmarking (63 per cent) and communications of total […]
In a recent case, the Supreme Court of Canada is being asked to consider a question that has long divided courts and vexed employers: are agreements that forfeit employees’ unvested equity-based compensation on termination enforceable, even if the vesting is scheduled to occur during the reasonable notice period? “The issue is an important one because […]
The average Canadian employer is planning to increase their salary budget by 3.5 per cent in 2026, according to a new survey by WTW. The survey, which polled more than 29,000 employers across 157 countries, found the majority of companies said they’re planning an increase of between 3.2 per cent and 3.6 per cent. Notably, […]