The Right Stuff July 01, 2008 | Brooke Smith ESG issues are front and centre as pension plans try to balance responsible investing with maximizing returns. As far back as 1997, members of the University of Western Ontario retirement plans showed an interest in a portfolio choice that would reflect doing good things in the […]
Trying to attract and retain multi-generational employees—and meet their diverse needs—is nothing short of a challenge. According to Monster Canada, almost 90% of Canadian workplaces today employ up to four generations of workers. And, almost half of Canadians who work in a multi-generational environment report experiencing a “clash” with older or younger co-workers. Gen Ys, […]
Real estate, hedge funds and private equity: alternatives are certainly good investments to help diversify a portfolio, but they’re not without their challenges, say plan sponsors. The 8,000-member pension plan of the United Church of Canada moved into alternatives in the last three years. “But it’s ‘alternative light,’” said Dan Foster, the plan’s investment manager, […]
Born between 1977 and 1994, generation Y is gaining visibility in the workforce now. And employers are going to have to address what kind of benefits plans will be suitable, said Karen Kesteris, director of marketing and product development, Green Shield Canada, speaking Thursday at the GIPC conference in Toronto. Unfortunately, the health picture for […]
Canadian pension plans are once again grappling with low interest rates and falling markets. However, they’ve learned from past experience and are armed with new battle tactics. Pension plans’ standards soared high as they revelled in the market returns of the 1990s. Fully funded, plans did not have to battle the markets. In fact, it […]
Think plan members who live a healthy lifestyle—exercise, eat right, don’t smoke—should pay less for their health benefits plans? Representatives from the sanofi-aventis advisory board presented their thoughts on this issue as well as the results of the sanofi-aventis Healthcare Survey 2008 and how plan sponsors should respond at the CPBI Forum 2008 Wednesday in […]
“‘Best benefits’ is not about having the best benefits—as in the most expensive, the highest co-insurance, the richest DB plans,” said Sarah Beech, managing principal, with Hewitt Associates. “Best is really defined as what is the best program that meets both the organization’s and, more importantly, the employees’ needs.” Beech and benefits managers from three […]
When it comes to funding retiree healthcare benefits, will employees be left with only crumbs? Staying with a company 20-plus years until retirement is rare these days. What’s even more rare is a company that still offers retiree health benefits. According to a Watson Wyatt survey of 500 major Canadian employers, fewer than half of […]
By law, employers have a duty to accommodate employees with a disability, whether that disability is physical or mental. Accommodation can include such changes as part-time shifts, job sharing between two employees, eliminating non-essential tasks, providing flexible work arrangements and offering additional time to learn new responsibilities. “Accommodations don’t cost too much,” said Lisa Romano, […]
Several small plan sponsors from across Canada participated in a virtual roundtable to talk about their concerns and challenges in providing their employees with benefits and pensions. Here’s a brief introduction to the participants: • Tom Arnould is chief financial officer of Envisioning + Storytelling, Inc., a marketing firm in Vancouver. • Geoff Bagg is […]