In its 2016 budget, the federal government proposed changes to the agreement powers of the Pension Benefits Standards Act. The changes, according to the budget document, would “broaden the scope of its ability to enter into bilateral agreements with provinces under the PBSA, which will better allow the federal and provincial governments to work together to […]
When Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s 31-year-old chief executive officer, told the world he was taking a two-month parental leave following the birth of his daughter last year, it signalled a turning point in the conversation about the link between strong families and business success. The move also confirmed that what’s good for the boss is also […]
A comparison of pension systems in Canada and Britain isn’t an apples-to-apples exercise — or even apples to grapefruits. But when it comes to pension reform, there are definitely overarching lessons for Canada. Britain’s reforms, of which auto-enrolment is a signature component, got underway in October 2012 with the country’s largest employers mandated to automatically […]
When the federal government presents its 2016 Budget on March 22, employers will be listening to hear more about the proposed changes to parental leave. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government said it would introduce more flexible parental benefits, which would allow working parents to receive benefits in smaller blocks of time over a period of […]
Plan sponsors awaiting a final report on modernizing and increasing accountability in the regulations of financial services and pension plans in Ontario should be wary of a recommendation that would give the new regulator binding rule-making authority and the ability to impose fines on those that don’t follow the rules. “That’s a bit of a sea change, given that […]
More than three-quarters (77%) of Ontarians are concerned about the sustainability of the province’s healthcare system, according to a new report. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s survey is published today alongside its report, Transformation through Value and Innovation: Revitalizing Health Care in Ontario. According to the survey, 80% of respondents agree with the statement “Ontario’s healthcare system will […]
The top rewards-related issue during a merger and acquisition transaction is medical benefits, a key area of focus in 92% of projects analyzed by Mercer for its first People Risks in M&A Transactions report. The report, which included the analysis of nearly 450 transaction assignments and some 300 M&A professionals, found that about 80% of the transactions […]
Almost a third (30%) of U.K. employers have a defined wellness strategy in place for their employees, according to new research by the Reward & Employee Benefits Association. Its Employee Wellness Research 2016: How wellness strategies are growing in the UK, published in association with Punter Southall Health & Protection, found that 80% of these wellness strategies were launched in […]
Employers that provide health and wellness benefits for retirees will want to make sure they keep an eye on a number of changes to the Ontario Drug Benefit program announced in the budget on Feb. 25. “They will want to make sure they look at their plans to avoid having to pay twice, and that […]
Educating employees about their benefits is a high priority for 65% of North American organizations, according to new research by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Its Benefits Communication Survey Results, which polled Canadian and U.S. employers, found that, despite prioritizing benefits communication, only 19% of employers surveyed said their employees have a high […]