While there’s multiple opportunities for the use of artificial intelligence in the employee benefits space — including making the claims process more efficient and personalizing the plan member experience — one of the biggest advantages of the technology is the ability to streamline administrative tasks, allowing employees to focus on more value-added work in addition […]
Just two-fifths (41 per cent) of global employers say they’ve attained full gender equity, according to a new survey by ManpowerGroup. The survey, which polled more than 40,000 employers in 42 countries, found 52 per cent reported pay equity initiatives are on schedule, while the remaining 48 per cent were behind or had no initiatives. […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is investing up to $40 million in the creation of a real estate investment platform dedicated to purpose-built student accommodation opportunities in Europe. The new group is being created through the CPPIB’s acquisition of Nido Living (which will be a wholly owned but independently-operated portfolio company), as well as its […]
Three-quarters (76 per cent) of Canadian employers are mandating employees return to the office partially or full time, citing productivity, team communication and workplace culture as key drivers for the decision, according to a new survey by Cisco Systems Inc. The survey, which polled 150 Canadian employers and 500 employees, found nearly two-thirds (64 per […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is acquiring an 80 per cent stake in a Japanese solar power generation plant alongside its portfolio company Shizen Energy Inc. The solar power plant generates 31 megawatts, or enough energy to power 7,850 homes, according to a press release. The Caisse first invested $186 million in the energy […]
The Investment Management Corp. of Ontario believes an increasingly icy dynamic between the U.S. and China could lead to heightened volatility for institutional investors this year, says Nick Chamie, the IMCO’s chief strategist and senior managing director of total portfolio and capital markets. “If we’re no longer zeroing in on maximizing economic efficiency, we’re no longer […]
A joint venture that saw the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Blackstone Inc. acquire a 20 per cent stake in a senior mortgage loan portfolio from the failed Signature Bank for US$1.2 billion was the biggest mergers and acquisitions transaction in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to a report by S&P Global Market Intelligence. […]
The Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System is considering the sale of LifeLabs Inc., according to a report by The Globe and Mail. A spokesperson for the infrastructure arm of the OMERS said the investment organization has held preliminary negotiation talks with “multiple potential buyers” but is currently not in any late-stage discussions. The report said […]
About half (51 per cent) of global institutional investors believe a recession is inevitable, a sentiment that runs strongest in the U.K. (67 per cent) and North America (62 per cent), according to Natixis Investment Managers’ 2024 outlook survey. The survey, which polled 500 institutional investors in 27 countries, also found among those expecting a […]
Amazon Canada is supporting deaf employees at its Edmonton fulfilment centre through enhanced accessibility measures and manager training. The online retailer’s site-specific initiatives include classes in American Sign Language, the addition of supplementary ASL videos on its intranet and designated safety vests that communicate deaf employees’ status to other workers. Amazon is also increasing its […]