Vancouver City Savings Credit Union is using its internal benefits and employee data to react to the financial realities that workers are facing amid the rising cost of living, says Ivana Afonso, the organization’s director of total rewards. “We know the cost-of-living crisis is hitting our core-aged employees hardest, especially those balancing housing, childcare and […]
Employers can provide better support to female employees with caregiving responsibilities by adjusting their benefits strategy and including men in the conversation, says Sarah Kaplan, founding director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. “We have a system that’s simply not designed for caregivers. Women […]
Roughly three-quarters (73 per cent) of Canadian employers say the rising cost of benefits is the No. 1 issue influencing their benefits strategy this year, up significantly from 40 per cent in 2023, according to a new survey by WTW. The survey, which polled more than 145 employers across the public and private sectors, found […]
Colliers International Group Inc.’s win at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards is highlighting the company’s efforts to support employee well-being via its absence management program, says Sonia-Sophia Vallie, the company’s benefits, leaves and accommodation specialist. “This was an exciting moment for the entire company, to receive such an award where the efforts of our […]
The Saskatchewan government has passed several amendments to the provincial Employment Act that will impact employers’ leave policies. The amendments include the creation of a new 16-week unpaid interpersonal violence leave in addition to the existing 10-day leave, of which five are paid and five are unpaid. Employers will also no longer be able to […]
For employers that are designing a financial wellness program, it’s important to provide a user-friendly, educational, and flexible offering that reflects the diversity of employees’ life stages, says Diana McLachlan, chief people officer at Wealthsimple. “Financial security is at the core of people’s lives, and when companies recognize that and invest in it meaningfully, it […]
U.S. meatpacking workers are getting their first new defined benefit pension plan in nearly 40 years under a contract agreement between Brazil-based JBS, one of the world’s largest meat companies, and an American labour union. The United Food and Commercial Workers union said 26,000 meatpacking workers at 14 JBS facilities would be eligible for the […]
The Public Service Alliance of Canada has reached a tentative agreement for more than 700 civilian members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police working in operational and administrative roles. The deal introduces a 37.5-hour workweek and adds two personal leave days each year, plus two additional leave days for the 2024/25 fiscal year. Members will […]
An article on how flexible retirement savings plans can help employees retire early was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Flexible savings plans, employer matching allowing employees to retire earlier than planned: survey 2. Are Canadian […]
Despite a fear of repercussions, more adults are recognizing that stepping back from work to deal with emotional burdens or psychological conditions that get in the way of their lives is a necessary choice, one that a growing number of employers recognize. ComPsych Corp., a provider of employee mental-health programs and absence management services, encourages […]