Organizations are headed for greener pastures. A survey of 62 plan sponsors and 44 investment managers worldwide indicates that most of them are incorporating environmental, social and governance issues into their investment policies. According to the survey by Principles for Responsible Investment(PRI), a United Nations group of institutional investors, 67% of plan sponsors and 83% […]
It’s not SAD(seasonal affective disorder)that employees will be suffering from this summer, but SAS(seasonal absence syndrome). According to a recent U.S. survey, 39% of full-time employees have “called in sick” to work to enjoy a day off during the summer months. The reasons for the “sick day” included an opportunity to enjoy the weather, to […]
As mental health-related disability claims rise, employers look to new strategies to combat stress, depression and other mental disorders in the workplace. As our 24/7 culture continues at breakneck speed, our minds become backlogged with life stressors, which we carry with us into the workplace. The consequence is a plague of mental health issues affecting […]
Talking about mental illness in the workplace may sometimes be frowned upon, but this attitude needs to change, according to Alfred Apps, former chair of the Foundation Board for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, speaking today to The Economic Club of Toronto. “We can talk easily about our own prostate problems, our wife’s […]
Canadians love their health benefits and want to hold on to them. According to the 2007 sanofi-aventis Healthcare Survey, 61% of the health benefit plan members surveyed said they’d choose their plan over $20,000 in cash. Although 95% realize their plans cost their employers a much smaller amount, they are aware that their health costs […]
Today, benefits and pension programs are in a state of flux, and compliance and risk management are becoming higher profile. That said, insurers have to be prepared, said Karen Christie, assistant vice-president, compliance and risk management, group retirement services, Sun Life Financial, speaking at the LOMA Canada conference in Toronto. With changes to the CAP […]
Today’s 30-year-olds value their health benefit plans now—and in the future. A majority of today’s 30-year-olds may live in the moment, but they’re looking to the future. With mounting drug and dental costs, the questionable sustainability of Canada’s healthcare system and media coverage of yet another large organization slashing its postretirement benefits, these savvy Canadians […]
A Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and Economist Intelligence Unit study of 500-plus HR and non-HR executives – in which 5% were Canadian – revealed that more than 85% of those surveyed believe people are important to all aspects of organizational performance. Although senior executives see “people issues” as important, they’re not sure HR can step up […]
According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey of 150 investment management executives, just under one third of investment management companies will increase outsourcing of their administrative and back-office functions over the next two years. Sixty-two per cent of executives said they’ll likely maintain their current outsourcing levels. The remaining 7% plan to bring their outsourced accounting, financial […]
The Bank of Canada may increase interest rates in order to keep inflation at bay. The Bank of Canada indicated that both economic growth and inflation in Canada were stronger than expected. Core inflation reached a high of 2.5% in April, and the Canadian economy was probably a percentage point higher than projected for Q1. […]