As plan sponsors with defined benefit (DB) pension plans still struggle with funding issues, some may be considering a switch to a defined contribution (DC) plan. But DC isn’t the only route for plan sponsors frustrated by the trials of DB. Stephanie Kalinowski and Rachel Arbour, lawyers with Hicks Morley, recently presented alternative arrangements for […]
There’s no denying that many defined benefit (DB) plans have been getting bad press (think General Motors) as of late. On a positive note, however, DB plans have adapted to better meet plan sponsors’ and plan members’ needs. Could the private sector learn any lessons from the public sector model? Allan Shapira, a senior actuary […]
Responsible investment (RI) is increasingly gaining traction in the U.S. and Canada due, in part, to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI). At the joint F&C Investments and Jantzi-Sustainalytics seminar on Nov. 16 in Toronto, presenters shared their experiences of implementing the six principles—which were developed by an international group of institutional investors […]
In one sense, Melodie Li has a “second life.” The part-time HR generalist with Next Level Games Inc., an independent third-party video game developer in Vancouver, works from home. And even as a part-time employee, she still receives benefits. In fact, any employee working more than 20 hours a week is eligible for benefits. “The […]
Money in Motion Roundtable November 01, 2009 | Brooke Smith For this year’s Top 40 Money Managers Report, we brought together money managers, consultants and plan sponsors in a virtual roundtable to discuss investment decisions that plan sponsors are making, how they translate into action and the trends we can expect in the next few […]
Organizations are like the tide; they ebb and flow. They change. And whether change is intense (e.g., a merger or new leadership) or chaotic (e.g., 9/11, SARS), in every change there’s both danger and opportunity, says Peggy Grall, a certified executive coach, speaking today at the Employee Assistance Program Association of Toronto’s seminar, Managing the […]
Trying to get a prescription filled at 2 a.m.? Live in northern Ontario but don’t have access to a healthcare provider? PharmaTrust MedCentre System, a telepharmacy kiosk, provides a solution, and it’s simple to use. A patient inserts his prescription, then, via two-way video conferencing, the patient is connected with a pharmacist who can counsel […]
While mental illness statistics are surprising (in Canada, one in five people will be diagnosed with a mental illness), the cost to employers is just as startling. According to one statistic, 14% of net corporate profits go to deal with mental health issues in the workplace when they’re not properly addressed, explained Mary Ann Baynton, […]
The pension industry has had its share of headlines this year: General Motors, Bernard Madoff and Earl Jones, Canada’s own Ponzi king, come to mind. And though some experts speculate that a market turnaround is near, Canada’s defined contribution (DC) plans have also made headlines. Last year, our Top 50 DC Plans Report found 18 […]
Hard times can take a toll on employees’ mental health. What can employers do to help? While she can now talk about it with a touch of humour, Karen Liberman’s experience was far from funny. “Sometimes you just draw the short straw,” says Liberman, executive director of the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario. “And that […]