Manulife’s new volunteer initiative is designed to strengthen employee well-being, build social connection and unite teams through purpose-driven community action. In addition to offering its 37,000 global employees an annual paid volunteer day benefit, the insurance company’s inaugural Impact Week — which ran from April 27 to May 1 in Canada and the U.S. — […]
The combination of several innovations in defined contribution pension plan design can dramatically improve retirement readiness across income levels, according to a new report by Mercer. Its annual retirement readiness barometer analyzed the impact of two key innovations — variable payment life annuities and exposure to alternative investments like private markets — alongside plan flexibility […]
An article on British Columbia’s updated pension standards, including the introduction of auto-escalation for defined contribution pension plans, was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: B.C. amending pension legislation, including auto-escalation for DC plans Ontario pension plan assets […]
For the past 11 years, Benefits Canada’s Chronic Disease at Work conference has examined the current trends in chronic disease in Canada and what they mean for plan sponsors. In a virtual format on Feb. 4, attendees learned about topics including key trends in chronic disease management and prevention, chronic skin conditions, diabetes, postpartum depression […]
In both an in-person and virtual format on Sept. 16, the inaugural Toronto Benefits Summit brought together more than 300 employers, consultants, industry providers and other key stakeholders for a full day of exploring trends in the benefits and wellness space. The packed agenda, which was presented to a sold-out room, included panel discussions presenting […]
While the new approach to employment insurance benefits was initially hailed as progressive and flexible, its impact on women in the workplace isn’t yet clear. Nora Spinks, chief executive officer, Work-Life Harmony Enterprises In 2019, the federal government updated employment insurance parental benefits, including a new ‘use it or lose it’ option of five to […]
At the Marriott Pinnacle Downtown on May 13, Benefits Canada hosted the 2025 Vancouver Benefits Summit, an event designed for B.C.-based employers, advisors and consultants. Across several insightful sessions, the event’s attendees learned about what matters most to their employees and overall workforce health, including holistic well-being programs, fertility benefits, pharmacy care, hormonal health and […]
The benefits of artificial intelligence go hand in hand with the many risks, but the pension industry’s requirements around fiduciary responsibility and governance, as well as privacy concerns, add an important layer to these considerations. Genevieve Hayman, senior affiliate researcher in research, advocacy and standards, the CFA Institute Many artificial intelligence risks — which include […]
Calling all employers and plan sponsors — the 2025 Workplace Benefits Awards will open for entries on Monday, March 31. This year, Benefits Canada is allowing a bit of extra time for submitting nominations, so we’re opening up the awards portal a whole month early. If your organization is leading the way in transforming the […]
For the past 10 years, Benefits Canada’s Chronic Disease at Work conference has examined the current trends in chronic disease in Canada and what they mean for plan sponsors. Hosted in a virtual format on Feb. 12, the 2025 conference explored several chronic diseases, as well as their impacts on the workplace and the role of employers […]