An article on proposed changes to preferred pharmacy networks outlined in the Ontario government’s fall economic statement 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. Ontario taking steps to end preferred pharmacy networks, introducing VPLA framework 2. […]
The union representing workers at Loblaws Inc.’s distribution centre in Ajax, Ont. have ratified a new five-year collective agreement that includes benefits and wage gains. Employees with 15 or more years of service will now have their top-tier benefits plan fully paid by the employer, eliminating the previous monthly costs of $50 for single coverage […]
An Ontario arbitrator has confirmed the validity of the long-term disability exception to the mandatory retirement rule. When Ontario eliminated mandatory retirement in 2006, the legislation provided an exception for insured employment benefit plans to maintain a cutoff based on age. “This was intended to avoid destabilizing existing insurance plans while still permitting parties to […]
Beyond the noticeable changes in the new National Hockey League collective bargaining agreement — like expanding the regular season to 84 games and implementing a playoff salary cap — is an investment in caring for former players that hasn’t existed until now. The league and union will contribute US$4 million annually to the newly established […]
An article on the Association of Canadian Pension Management’s call for modernized pension legislation in Alberta 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. ACPM urging Alberta government to align pension funding, administration rules with other provinces […]
More than 8,300 workers will have lost their job and some benefits by the time Hudson’s Bay Co. closes all of its stores at the start of June, new court documents filed by the collapsing retailer say. The cut will span the majority of the 9,364 workers at Canada’s oldest company and form one of […]
In the unionized workplace, the implementation of artificial intelligence isn’t just a management decision — it’s also a bargaining issue. “Just don’t assume you can quietly roll AI out, because it’s something to which the unions are paying attention,” says Lisa Stam, managing partner at Springlaw Professional Corp. “And that’s important, because unionized workplaces often […]
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 […]
While many benefits plan sponsors have traditionally considered moving their plan from an insured arrangement to an administrative-services only model upon reaching a certain threshold of employees, several external factors have impacted this decision in recent years. Todd Stephen, vice-president of employee benefits and pensions at Selectpath Benefits & Financial Inc., says these factors — […]