The Canadian pension industry must go beyond the defined benefit versus defined contribution debate and focus on the model of the future, according to a new report by the C.D. Howe Institute. The report, by actuaries and pension experts Robert Brown and Stephen A. Eadie, proposes a common ground as a starting point for all […]
A new study linking gender and responses to temperature could have an impact on workplace productivity. The study, which was published in the German-based, peer-reviewed scientific journal Plos One, included more than 500 participants. In each session, participants were given the same set of tasks for each temperature level, which varied from between 16.19 to 32.57 degrees Celsius. The fact […]
The Ontario government is launching a review of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to ensure the province’s employees and their families remain supported and protected in the workplace. The review will be conducted by Linda Regner Dykeman and Sean Speer, special advisors who’ve been appointed based on their respective areas of expertise in insurance and […]
La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is contributing $75 million in the form of a subordinated private debt to Medavie Inc. Medavie operates Medavie Blue Cross, an insurance carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits, as well as administers various government-sponsored health programs. “Because of its resilience to economic cycles and the stable returns […]
Workplace wellness programs don’t provide employees with significant measurable outcomes, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study, which looked at 33,000 employees at 160 BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. worksites for a year and a half, found about 4,000 staff participated in the company’s wellness program. It comprised eight […]
Mercer Canada has appointed new heads for its wealth practices in Toronto and Quebec. Todd Nelson is the firm’s new wealth leader for its Toronto office and Yanick Chainey will lead the wealth business for the province of Quebec. Before joining Mercer Canada as a principal in January 2018, Nelson was at Willis Towers Watson […]
The National Football League and the NFL Players Association are putting more resources in place for players’ pain management and behavioural health through new union agreements. The two parties will be forming a joint pain management committee, with medical experts appointed by both the league and the union, according to a press release. The committee will […]
In a challenging year for global equity markets, with fixed income returns below average, the University of Toronto Asset Management Corp.’s pension portfolio returned a negative 1.6 per cent, while it’s endowment portfolio returned a negative 1.5 per cent, net of investment fees and expenses. The UTAM manages funds for the university’s pension, endowment and […]
The majority of U.S. employees feel they can’t share an idea, opinion or concern at work due to a fear of disrupting their role at the company, according to a new survey by Fierce Conversations. The research, which surveyed more than 1,000 full-time employees across the U.S., found nearly 63 per cent of respondents have chosen not […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is acquiring a US$1.3 billion stake in LifeArc’s royalty interests on worldwide sales of immunotherapy drug Keytruda through its European credit group. The drug, which is intended to help the body fight certain forms of cancer, was developed by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. and has been approved in 85 countries. […]