Canada’s pension plans are weathering the coronavirus pandemic, with many plans currently in their best financial shape in several years. The early days of the pandemic painted a bleak picture for institutional investors. Between Feb. 19 and March 23, 2020, the S&P/TSX composite index dropped by 37 per cent — the latter date marking the index’s lowest point […]
Developing a made-in-Canada approach to employee ownership trusts will address multiple public policy challenges, according to a new report by non-profit Social Capital Partners. Employee-owned companies — where a broad base of employees own a significant stake in their employer — are associated with better company performance, stronger local economies, long-term investment and higher wealth […]
Chronic physical health conditions and anxiety and mood disorders are frequently co-morbid conditions, so it’s important for employers to understand the link and how to support staff in the workplace, said Deborah McLeod, clinical director at Carepath Inc., during Benefits Canada’s 2022 Chronic Disease at Work conference in February. People living with chronic physical health […]
More than a third (36 per cent) of Canadians aged 18 to 25 have already begun planning and saving for retirement, according to a survey by online real estate investment marketplace Fundscraper Capital Inc. “It’s well documented that generation Z and younger millennials have had it much harder than previous generations when it comes to career […]
An article on British Columbia’s paramedics and their need for enhanced mental-health benefits was the most read story over the past week on BenefitsCanada.com. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. B.C. paramedics seeking enhanced mental-health benefits 2. Canadian pension plans overcoming legislation, governance challenges: webinar 3. Ontario’s DB pension plans should take steps […]
Lululemon Athletica Inc. is offering mental-health first-aid training to all employees, with a goal of training all of its workers by 2023. While the training isn’t mandatory, more than 300 employees have already completed the program, said Angela Wright, vice-president of health and wealth and organization planning at Lululemon, in an emailed statement to Benefits Canada. […]
Paramedics in British Columbia are seeking increased mental-health support and psychological training amid increasing challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic and the opioid crisis. Troy Clifford, provincial president of the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. and president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 873, says the province’s paramedics are currently reimbursed for just $100 […]
As this wave of the coronavirus pandemic abates and more organizations settle into their respective futures of work, leadership teams are considering how the many factors around the management of work and people will need to evolve. While some organizations don’t want — or can’t — change where people work, those that can have numerous […]
Just over half (55 per cent) of Canadians said flexible or hybrid work arrangements are more important to them than career progression (24 per cent), while 21 per cent said neither were of value, according to LifeWorks Inc.’s latest mental-health index. The survey, which polled 3,000 working Canadians, found the overall mental-health score for January […]
A pair of stories on employee burnout and the ‘Great Resignation’ took the top spots over the past week on BenefitsCanada.com. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Expert panel: How employers can help employees struggling with burnout 2. How can employers turn the ‘Great Resignation’ tide? 3. Employers expanding equity compensation programs to […]