A series of major winter storms that shut down highways, closed schools and prompted travel warnings across parts of Ontario is renewing scrutiny of how employers apply return-to-office policies during emergency situations. During a severe snowstorm earlier this month, an internal memo sent to Ontario public servants by the provincial Ministry of Transportation indicated they […]
Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. has transitioned to a majority employee-ownership structure, with more than 70 per cent of employees now holding equity in the firm. The decision reflects a desire to more closely align employees with clients as the firm enters a new phase of scale and maturity, says Sylvain Boulé, the firm’s president and […]
As pension regulators narrow their priorities heading into 2026, the Association of Canadian Pension Management is placing greater emphasis on flexible pension plan design, with a focus on member outcomes, governance and clarity. Korinne Collins, chief executive officer at the ACPM, notes flexibility across the accumulation and decumulation stages is rising on the industry’s agenda […]
Only 18 per cent of leaders scored high in stress tolerance, raising questions about leadership readiness as organizations navigate sustained economic uncertainty, rapid technological change and rising employee expectations, according to a new report from SuccessFinder. The findings are drawn from more than 17,000 leadership assessments conducted across industries and leadership levels over a 12-month […]
As cost-of-living pressures continue to shape employee expectations, holiday gift-giving in the workplace is becoming less about tradition and more about equity, flexibility and psychological safety. For employers, the challenge is balancing recognition with restraint at a time when discretionary spending feels heavier for many employees. At IKEA Canada, that balance starts with consistency and […]
While Health Canada’s approval of the first drug to specifically treat postpartum depression represents a clinical milestone in women’s mental health, one benefits expert says its impact on employer-sponsored drug plans is likely to be limited. Zuranolone, sold under the brand name Zurzuvae, is a 14-day oral treatment designed to provide rapid symptom relief for […]
When Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital merged in April 2025, leaders weren’t just bringing together two sites and two cultures, they also had to merge two very different pension arrangements. For years, Grand River had run its own defined benefit plan worth more than $650 million, while St. Mary’s employees had been […]
With inflation still squeezing household budgets, interest rates elevated compared to pre-pandemic norms and an ageing workforce heading towards retirement, employees are under more pressure than ever to make the right financial decisions. For many, their workplace savings plan is the cornerstone of their retirement, but without proper guidance they risk costly mistakes during this […]
Foundational or ‘workplace literacy’ skills — including communication, problem solving and digital competency — are becoming essential as employers struggle to find candidates who meet current labour market needs, says Alison Howard, executive director of ABC Life Literacy Canada. “Nearly half of working-age Canadians struggle with low literacy, and that is a major barrier to […]
A recent New York Times feature highlighted the growing tension between workplace expectations and the unequal share of caregiving and domestic labour women continue to manage — a conversation that mirrors what Dr. Vera Kohut, family physician and medical director at Serefin Health, says she sees daily. “Work was built around the life pattern of […]