One employee touts the benefits of an ESOP, while an academic notes it depends on individual financial circumstances and plan design. Morgan Zirul, store manager, Starbucks Corp. When I joined Starbucks in 2017, I was 18 and not really thinking about retirement or long-term financial planning. During onboarding, I learned about the company’s benefits, including […]
In the OPSEU Pension Trust’s pursuit of strong retirement outcomes for members, the journey is just as important as the destination, says Jacky Chen, the organization’s managing director of completion portfolio strategies and total portfolio management. “I think the key part is we think about risk as a scarce resource — and we must take […]
Ottawa Community Housing Corp. is educating employees about their benefits offerings through a new monthly communication campaign. The campaign, which started in January, ties the employer’s benefits program to seasonal campaigns such as Heart Month in February and Financial Wellness Month in November by highlighting the corresponding aspects of the plan. Michael Dimaano, senior manager […]
EY Canada is supporting employee well-being by expanding its list of reimbursable wellness expenses and introducing a series of financial education seminars. Employees can now be reimbursed for purchases such as mattresses, pillows, board games and Lego kits, as well as classes and supplies for personal enrichment including cooking, music, photography, languages and mindfulness. Workers […]
In its 2026 budget on Thursday, the Ontario government proposed doubling the pension benefits guarantee fund’s monthly guarantee limit from $1,500 to $3,000 for all eligible plan beneficiaries, the largest increase since the PBGF was created in 1980. It cited a recent review of the PBGF that found the fund had $1.3 billion in net […]
Relay Financial Technologies Inc. is supporting employee well-being and engagement with a range of perks. The offerings are covered through the financial technology company’s wellness account and include pet insurance, dog-walking and house-cleaning services and meal delivery. Read: Employers relying on benefits, perks to attract, retain talent in 2026: report Jenna Smallfield, Relay’s senior director […]
Saskatchewan Blue Cross is engaging employees and supporting charitable initiatives through its employee giving program. Each year, the organization asks employees to decide which charitable organizations receive its not-for-profit dollars. This year, the program allocated more than $18,100 in support to 68 community organizations across Saskatchewan, all of which are registered charities with a focus […]
The Bank of Montreal is supporting women’s health through information sessions and an enhanced resource hub. The bank is hosting the latest session in its women’s health series at the end of March on women’s cardiovascular health, a virtual and in-person event that will discuss heart health and how it impacts women differently. Sarika Gundu, […]
Despite the ongoing geopolitical and economic volatility that marked 2025 and will continue to shape 2026, institutional investors are taking a measured approach and viewing their portfolios through a long-term lens. “You can indicate those risks, but it’s not going to change the way we invest — it’s just an added risk,” says Jennifer Shum, […]
London Drugs is supporting employee well-being through several mental-health training programs. Through a mobile app, the pharmacy chain offers employees group and individual learning sessions that focus on resilience in the workplace. Kristi Loewen, manager of employee relations, says the decision to offer the program was inspired by the challenges that employees faced during the […]