Canadian employers say competition for talent (84 per cent), rising mental-health issues (63 per cent) and a focus on inclusion and diversity (48 per cent) are the top factors influencing their benefits strategy, according to a new survey by WTW. The survey, which polled more than 5,200 employers representing 22.9 million employees around the world, found Canadian employers […]
As several U.S. states enact legislation restricting gender-affirming care, Indeed Inc. is offering US$10,000 to transgender employees or those with transgender children who want to relocate, according to a report by the Financial Post. The hiring company will cover any tax liability created by the payment, which is considered income, said Misty Gaither, Indeed’s vice-president […]
Standard Chartered is rolling out enhanced global parental leave benefits, effective Sept. 1. The bank is standardizing the amount of parental leave it offers, providing parents with the option of undertaking more equitable caregiving responsibilities for their children. With the enhanced benefits, all employees can access a minimum of 20 weeks of paid parental leave, irrespective of […]
PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada is improving its parental leave policy with specialized coaching and leadership training for employees. As part of its Me + PwC program, the company conducted listening tours with employees, with the feedback including more support for parents, says Sonia Boisvert, a partner and chief people officer at PwC Canada. “Being a parent myself, […]
There have been several changes to the Canada Labour Code in recent months. Here’s an overview of what’s happened and what’s on the horizon for employers under federal labour jurisdiction. New employer obligations As of July 9, 2023, federally regulated employers must reimburse employees for reasonable work-related expenses. When determining whether an expense is related […]
More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of large U.S. employers are reporting an increase in mental-health needs among their workforces, according to a new survey by Business Group on Health. The survey, which polled around 150 large employers employing 19 million people, found this is a 33 per cent increase compared to last year, when […]
Though still a fairly new concept, pet benefits are becoming a more common consideration when employers are expanding their offerings and looking to stand out. In August 2022, Talk Shop Media introduced a ‘pawrental’ leave policy, which allows employees to take time off around the adoption of a new pet to focus on ownership duties, […]
An article on whether Canada should implement flexible working legislation was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Should Canada implement flexible working legislation for all workplaces? 2. How DC plan sponsors can prevent a Muslim pension gap 3. How employers can support employees impacted by […]
While innovative benefits such as so-called ‘grandternity’ leave can support employee retention efforts, they’re best implemented through a diversity, equity and inclusion approach that includes similar programs for a wide range of employees, says Sandra Ventin, an associate vice-president at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. “I think [‘grandternity’] has some cachet and it obviously leads […]
An article on the federal government’s plan to scrap Canada mortgage bonds and the potential impact on pension funds was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Feds’ plan to discontinue Canada mortgage bonds may limit pension funds’ abilities to mitigate risk: PIAC […]