Employees hoping for large across-the-board raises in 2012 will be disappointed, as Canadian employers are projecting an average wage increase of 3.1%, according to the Mercer Compensation Planning Survey. Base pay is considered the most important element of total compensation for most employees, according to a previous Mercer survey, but only 53% said they were […]
As Canada’s post-recession economy recovers, attention is returning to the challenge of shifting demographics—specifically, the impact the impending wave of baby boom retirees will have. While many organizations have taken steps to ensure a good internal pipeline of senior managers and leaders, the question arises as to whether employers will be able to hang on […]
Air Canada employees are back to work today after a tentative agreement on pay and pensions was reached yesterday, ending a three-day strike and 12 weeks of negotiations. CAW president Ken Lewenza said the new agreement is an important achievement for the 3,800 CAW members at Air Canada who resisted company demands for major pension […]
Executive compensation—particularly within publicly traded companies—has come under increased scrutiny in recent years as the economy has faced significant downturns. As a result, corporations need to focus attention on whether their executive compensation aligns with the goals of the organization and its shareholders, says a panel of experts at an Osler, Hoskin& Harcourt LLP seminar […]
Talking about compensation with a potential employer can be a nerve-racking experience in a tight job market. But most of today’s professionals aren’t shy about asking companies to show them the money, according to a new Robert Half International survey. More than 61% of workers interviewed said they’re comfortable negotiating a higher salary or better […]
Compensation budgets are likely to remain intact for 2011, with variable pay continuing to play an increasingly important role in the compensation package. Aon Hewitt’s survey of more than 500 employers found that three-quarters of companies expect to reach or exceed business performance goals this year, leading to the stabilization of pay and variable pay […]
As corporate merger and acquisition activity continues to increase, companies need to adjust how they leverage their compensation and benefits programs. The restructuring of these programs plays a critical role in retaining key talent during the transactions, according to a new survey by Hewitt Associates. Furthermore, findings from Hewitt’s M&A survey of 103 companies revealed […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s (CPPIB) unique approach to investing comes down to alpha, beta and something they like to call “better beta.” In a case study for the Rotman International Journal of Pension Management, Don Raymond, senior vice-president of public market investments with the CPPIB, explains how the fund finds the sweet spot […]
Executives at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board are facing uncomfortable questions on bonuses after a year in which they incurred record losses. After announcing a -18.62% loss for the year 2008, it was revealed this week that five top officers at the pension fund are eligible for more than $15 million in bonuses, prompting […]
Other Brieflies this week:| MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | Canada’s labour productivity fell in the fourth quarter of 2008 for the fifth time in six quarters, according to Statistics Canada. Productivity, a measure of how much an employee produces in an hour of work, fell 0.5%, surprising economists who had […]