An article on how winter weather impacts employers’ return-to-office and hybrid work policies was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Winter weather exposing cracks in return-to-office flexibility: expert 2. Tribunal rules employer’s conduct creating emotional discomfort […]
Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of Canadian job seekers expect it will be difficult to find a job in the next six months, a significant increase from the same time last year (62 per cent), according to a new survey by the Harris Poll on behalf of Express Services Inc. The survey, which polled more […]
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has ruled an employers’ conduct that creates mere emotional discomfort for employees during the accommodation process may not amount to discrimination. “What emerges from the Cillis v. Hamilton decision is an objective standard requiring employers to act reasonably, not perfectly,” says Jeff Goodman, a commercial employment law partner at […]
As the drug plan landscape evolves, the nuanced tension between cost management and the imperative to support employee health continues, according to a panel of experts discussing Benefits Canada’s inaugural Drug Plan Opinion Survey during the 2025 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum. The survey, which polled 124 Canadian plan sponsors with at least […]
A series of major winter storms that shut down highways, closed schools and prompted travel warnings across parts of Ontario is renewing scrutiny of how employers apply return-to-office policies during emergency situations. During a severe snowstorm earlier this month, an internal memo sent to Ontario public servants by the provincial Ministry of Transportation indicated they […]
Nearly nine in 10 (86 per cent) Canadian chief human resources officers say their influence is at an all-time high, as human resources becomes a central driver of productivity, talent strategy and business performance heading into 2026, according to a new survey by International Workplace Group. The survey, which polled more than 260 CHROs, found […]
Employers can help young employees transition from the classroom to the workplace by being clear about the skills they’re looking for, says Gemma Kenyon, director of careers and employability at City St. George’s, University of London. “We hear from students that there’s a lot of different language around skills and expectations, so I think being […]
Communication is critical to show employees the true value of total rewards beyond pay, according to Aastha Juneja, head of compensation and benefits at Corus Entertainment, speaking during a panel discussion at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Future of Work Summit. “We often think of ourselves as a number in the stream of people, but communication is […]
Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. has transitioned to a majority employee-ownership structure, with more than 70 per cent of employees now holding equity in the firm. The decision reflects a desire to more closely align employees with clients as the firm enters a new phase of scale and maturity, says Sylvain Boulé, the firm’s president and […]
Older Canadians’ retirement confidence is dropping amid longer life expectancies and a rising percentage of employees who continue to work past age 65, according to a new survey by the National Institute on Ageing at Toronto Metropolitan University. The survey, which polled more than 6,000 Canadians aged 50 and older, found one in five (22 […]