The Royal Bank of Canada is asking employees to return to in-office working to foster more in-person collaboration and creativity, reports Bloomberg. The bank’s hybrid arrangements will involve working in person two to three days a week for most office jobs, according to an email from Rafael Ruffolo, a spokesperson for the bank, who noted these practices are already in […]
Since Caary Capital Ltd. was founded during the coronavirus pandemic, it had to adapt quickly to the unpredictable hiring market using techniques like flexible working arrangements and an employee stock ownership plan to help attract and retain employees. “We’re a child of the pandemic so for us it was just a matter of getting used […]
The average disqualifications from employment insurance fell from 86,000 to 44,000 after the federal government implemented improved qualification criteria in September 2020 to address rising unemployment caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report from Statistics Canada. In response, Unifor is calling on the renewal of the government’s pandemic EI measures. “The report […]
An article on HSBC Bank Canada’s new benefits offerings was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. HSBC adding coverage for fertility treatments, surrogacy, gender affirmation 2. Employee placed on unpaid leave over mask refusal not entitled to reasonable notice: Alberta court 3. LifeWorks acquiring […]
Apple Inc. is making sudden changes to its return-to-workplace strategy for office-based workers. The policy, set to first take effect at the company’s Silicon Valley headquarters on Sept. 5, will require employees to work from the office on Tuesdays, Thursdays and a regular third day that will be determined by individual teams, according to a […]
An Alberta court has ruled that a Calgary grocery store worker placed on indefinite unpaid leave — for failure to comply with a mandatory mask policy — has resigned as opposed to being constructively dismissed and isn’t entitled to reasonable notice or compensation in lieu thereof. “This decision may signal that adjudicators will have little […]
In the midst of historically high inflation and ahead of a possible recession, it’s important for employers to offer benefits like financial counselling and flexible spending accounts to support employees’ financial and mental well-being. Mercer Canada predicts a 40 per cent chance of heading into a recession, according to feedback from investment managers and relevant data. […]
While the latest stage of the coronavirus pandemic is heralding a gradual return to relative calm, plan sponsors are stepping out of the frying pan and into the fire. The pandemic accelerated the ongoing evolution in the relationship between plan sponsors and plan members, with employees now looking to their employers to help them manage […]
While institutional investors are no strangers to established markets such as Europe and the U.S., the world’s emerging and frontier markets can provide diversification and opportunities for lucrative returns. Not surprisingly, events such as the coronavirus pandemic and a shifting geopolitical landscape are influencing these decisions in 2022 and beyond. In recent months, Russia’s invasion […]
Over the last three centuries, society has been living in a repetitive cycle featuring large and substantial reset moments. To think of these as historical blips is a mistake, said Leonard Brody, an Emmy-nominated business visionary, during the keynote session at Benefits Canada‘s 2022 DC Plan Summit. He urged delegates to think about the causations […]