A proposed retirement plan tax credit for small- and medium-sized employers could reduce cost barriers to offering employer-sponsored retirement programs, according to a new report by the C.D Howe Institute. It noted more than nine million working Canadians lack access to a workplace retirement plan, with the gap most pronounced among employees of SMEs. As […]
The federal government is expanding its return-to-office mandate for public employees. As of May 4, executives in the federal public service will be required to work onsite five days per week, while all workers will return four days per week as of July 6. The mandate applies to workers in the core public administration, including […]
Employers that have implemented a four-day workweek or an equivalent reduced-hours model are reporting improved employee productivity along with sharp reductions in turnover and overtime costs, according to a report by 4-day Week Global. It argued among organizations that implemented reduced-hours models — including four-day workweeks, six-hour shifts and 32-hour workweeks — work wasn’t compressed […]
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 […]
Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of employees say it’s important for their employers to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, down from 72 per cent in 2024, according to Benefits Canada’s 2025 Future of Work Survey. Additionally, 64 per cent of employees rated their employer’s DEI efforts as good (up from 56 per cent last […]
More than half (55 per cent) of employees say artificial intelligence would be positive for their organizations, up from 46 per cent in 2024, while just 22 per cent are feeling the same way about AI’s impact on their own roles, down from 27 per cent in 2024, according to Benefits Canada’s 2025 Future of […]
It’s important for employers to examine benefits data to tailor their offerings and focus on organizational resiliency to be successful in the year ahead, says Janine Mcinnis, vice-president of benefits consulting at Hub International Canada. “[Employers] striving to build sustainable, responsible businesses have a lot to contend with in 2026. In a landscape shaped by […]
In 2025, many organizations took steps to address an uncertain economy while responding to changing pressures. Looking ahead to 2026, there are some trends and areas of priority that might feel awfully familiar to those of previous years. However, they’re showing up in different ways than in the more recent past. Cost sustainability Many organizations […]
Flexible work arrangements and upskilling have become critical to give employers a competitive edge and allow them to attract and retain top talent, according to Aastha Juneja, head of compensation and benefits at Corus Entertainment, speaking during a panel at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Future of Work Summit. The panel delved into the results of Benefit’s […]