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2022 Healthy Outcomes Conference: How is the pandemic changing plan sponsors’ mental-health strategies?

During the pandemic, employers are facing the “perfect storm” of major workplace disruption coupled with a poor mental-health baseline leading up to the crisis, according to Judith Plotkin (centre), vice-president of health solutions at People Corporation Inc., speaking during a panel session at Benefits Canada‘s 2022 Healthy Outcomes Conference. “There was already huge pressure on […]

  • December 16, 2022 December 12, 2022
  • 07:56

2022 Healthy Outcomes Conference: Using disability data to improve employee wellness programs

While short- and long-term disability leaves can be challenging and disruptive for both employees and employers, reviewing trends data can help plan sponsors begin to better support workers who are struggling. Ontario Power Generation uses data on disability claims drivers, employee assistance program usage and leave durations to influence its programs, said Tanya Hickey (centre), […]

  • December 16, 2022 December 12, 2022
  • 07:54

2022 Healthy Outcomes Conference: Strong mental-health supports critical to plan sponsors’ attraction, retention strategies

In the face of a tight labour market and fierce competition for top talent, employee mental-health and well-being supports are emerging as key components of employers’ attraction and retention strategies. Speaking during a panel session at Benefits Canada‘s 2022 Healthy Outcomes Conference, Zayna Khayat (left), vice-president of growth and client success at Teladoc Health, said […]

  • December 16, 2022 December 12, 2022
  • 07:52

2022 Mental Health Summit: Incorporating resilience skill-building into mental-health programs

While traditional therapy benefits and virtual-care options are now table stakes in benefits plans, there’s more employers can do to equip employees with the resources to manage their mental-health challenges and build resilience, said Rebecca Smith, director of group life and disability services at Medavie Blue Cross, during Benefits Canada’s 2022 Mental Health Summit in […]

  • December 9, 2022 December 6, 2022
  • 07:58

2022 Mental Health Summit: How Bell Canada is evolving its workplace mental-health strategy

When Bell Canada launched its Bell Let’s Talk initiative in 2010, the telecommunications company announced a plan to spend $155 million on fighting stigma, improving access to care and funding research for mental health — but it also knew it had to lead by example.  One of the pillars of its plan was improving the […]

  • December 9, 2022 December 6, 2022
  • 07:54

2022 Top 40 Money Managers Report: The risks for DB, DC plan sponsors around alternative investments

When Saskatchewan’s Public Employees Pension Plan’s board introduced alternatives to its investment lineup in 2020 with an aim to improve the defined contribution plan’s risk-adjusted returns through diversification, it wasn’t its first time at the rodeo. The move came after 15 years of experience and comfort with alternatives through the PEPP’s defined benefit companion plan, […]

  • November 18, 2022 December 14, 2022
  • 08:54

2022 DCIF: Understanding sequence of returns risk in target-date funds

When defined contribution plan sponsors conduct due diligence on target-date fund providers, they’re often considering questions of active versus passively managed funds, the benefits of glide paths that glide to versus through retirement, strategic versus tactical funds and a provider’s approach to environmental, social and governance investing. But according to Sarah Donahue, director of consultant […]

  • October 17, 2022 October 14, 2022
  • 07:58

2022 DCIF: A look at target-date fund managers’ varying approaches to ESG investing

Responsible investing can drive stronger risk-adjusted returns and is increasingly being seen as a tool for prudent risk management, but defined contribution plan sponsors must understand target-date fund managers’ varying approaches to implementing environmental, social and governance factors into these funds. DC plan sponsors have myriad challenges to address when considering ESG investing options, including […]

  • October 17, 2022 October 14, 2022
  • 07:57

2022 DCIF: Best practices for incorporating sustainable investing into target-date funds

As greater numbers of defined contribution pension plan members ask for environmental, social and governance-friendly investment options, plan sponsors will need to grapple with how to implement these solutions into their target-date funds.  “From some studies that we’ve done, there’s definitely investor demand,” said Michael Greenberg, senior vice-president and portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions, […]

  • October 17, 2022 October 14, 2022
  • 07:56

Webinar coverage: Combatting rising benefits plan costs with digital pharmacies, drug plan optimization

After living through a prolonged global pandemic, Canadian benefits plan sponsors are facing a professional environment that’s almost unrecognizable to pre-2020 years. The coronavirus pandemic affected employees at a personal level and is also being felt by employers and their workplace benefits plans, said Jason Kennedy, general manager of virtual pharmacy for TELUS Health, during […]

  • September 12, 2022 September 8, 2022
  • 09:00