This marketer and mover of oil and natural gas has refined its benefits program to meet the needs of its diverse workforce. With everyone in the oil patch competing for the same limited resources, the flexible benefits plan and defined contribution (DC) pension plan offered by Gibson Energy make it an attractive organization—and No. 4 […]
Employees like choice, and this HR and payroll solutions company offers it in all aspects of its work environment. For Sylvia Klarer, director of talent management, with Ceridian Canada, her morning commute is about 30 seconds—maybe a bit longer if she stops for a coffee when she passes through the kitchen. Klarer, like 300 of […]
When AstraZeneca employees speak, the company listens. Pharmaceutical companies typically employ a variety of people from different professional and cultural backgrounds, and their desires are just as diverse. To ensure they are attracting the best talent, companies have to get an edge on the competition. For AstraZeneca, that edge is its ability to take action […]
Other Brieflies this week:| MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | According to a study released by Statistics Canada, the average weekly earning of employees was $788.71 in March, up 0.3% from February and 3.2% from a year earlier. Earnings rose the most in the health and social assistance sector with a […]
Other Brieflies this week:| TUE | WED | THU | FRI | Although many organizations are moving away from defined benefit (DB) pension plans or closing them to new employees, according to a study by Watson Wyatt, the majority of Fortune 100 companies still offer them. The analysis of retirement plans among Fortune 100 companies […]
Although 81% of respondents to the recent Moving Forward—An Overview of Capital Accumulation Plan survey by Buck Consultants said that they have a communication strategy in place, almost three-quarters of Canadian employers still thought that their employees were confused over the investment options in their CAPs. The survey, which polled 150 Canadian employers, found that […]
Traditionally, money market funds have been the most popular default fund in defined contribution (DC) pension plans but now that people are living longer, and increasing their retirement years, those funds just don’t cut it anymore. “You simply can’t retire on a money market fund,” said Zaheed Jiwani, senior investment consultant with Hewitt Associates, at […]
Although tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) won’t be implemented until January 2009, employers need to start thinking how, or if, this new savings vehicle will complement the current suite of defined contribution (DC) products they offer, according to Ross Gilbert, pension principal with Morneau Sobeco. “It’s important to position this product effectively with employees and explain […]
In this year’s report on Quebec, we asked Quebec-based industry experts to summarize the recent legislative and regulatory developments, as well as possible trends on the horizon. We also talked to Quebec plan sponsors about what they are doing to attract and retain talent. Here’s an update on what’s new in La Belle Province. While […]
State Street has been appointed by the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan (MERS) to provide a range of investment services for US$6 billion in assets. “After a competitive review, State Street proved best-suited to meet our growing needs,” says Jeb Burns, chief investment officer of MERS. “State Street’s expertise in daily valuation as well […]