Amid a challenging labour market, Canadian employers say attraction (64 per cent) and retention (57 per cent) are the top challenges impacting total rewards decisions, according to a new survey by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. The survey, which polled more than 500 employers, found just a third (29 per cent) were concerned about benefits […]
Walmart Canada is supporting employees’ ongoing education by covering the cost of tuition, books and course fees for programs at some of Canada’s top universities. The Live Better U education program provides employees with upskilling opportunities, including degrees and licensing for pharmacy technicians and opticians, as well as certificates in areas such as project management, […]
KPMG in Canada is marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by educating employees and employer clients on issues impacting Indigenous Canadians. The organization will close its offices on Oct. 2, providing employees with a day off to reflect and educate themselves on truth and reconciliation. According to the organization’s latest diversity, equity and […]
Vancouver-based investment firm InvestX Financial Canada Ltd. is balancing flexibility, employee productivity and well-being by requesting all employees work onsite each Tuesday. The ‘Together Tuesdays’ initiative resulted from the challenge of aligning various teams’ schedules in order to make the best use of the time together, says Marcus New, founder and chief executive officer of […]
While the Nova Scotia Pension Services Corp. isn’t currently invested in frontier markets, the institutional investor is set to take its first steps towards investing in the sector. “Step one is getting [the board] more comfortable with frontier markets,” says Steve Mahoney, the organization’s chief investment officer, which includes the N.S. Teachers’ Pension Plan, the […]
The Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities’ new risk management guideline allows for additional flexibility amid evolving issues such as cybersecurity and environmental, social and governance considerations, said David Bartucci, head of pension regulations and regulatory effectiveness at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario and a member of the CAPSA’s risk management committee, during […]
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario is seeking feedback on proposed updates to its guidance on pension plan administrator roles and responsibilities. The updates include new sections on managing and retaining records, responding to complaints and inquiries and communicating information to plan members in an accurate and timely manner. Jordan Fremont, a partner at […]
Despite the prevalence of farming in its home province, the Alberta Investment Management Corp.’s agricultural portfolio is just 13 years old, the product of a 2010 investment in converted farmland held by Australian timber producer Great Southern Group. The properties proved too arid for tree growth and were converted back to croplands for canola, wheat […]
While innovative benefits such as so-called ‘grandternity’ leave can support employee retention efforts, they’re best implemented through a diversity, equity and inclusion approach that includes similar programs for a wide range of employees, says Sandra Ventin, an associate vice-president at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. “I think [‘grandternity’] has some cachet and it obviously leads […]
Fidelity Canada is supporting the future financial well-being of young Canadians through a new video series hosted by the organization’s employees. The series, known as Money Gains, consists of 10 videos in both English and French, geared towards students and covering a range of investment and retirement topics, including interest, returns, risks and timelines. It […]