Employee Benefit News Canada - Keeping benefits advisers and consultants on top of the trends

Are you getting bangs for your tuition reimbursement bucks?

Many of your employees are heading back to classes along with their children this fall, and if your organization reimburses tuition the company is footing all or part of the bill. But chances are you have not set corporate objectives for these programs, and therefore you have no idea what, if any, return you are getting on your investment.
National DC plan proposed

A model for a national defined contribution program addresses lack of pension plan coverage for 3.5 million Canadians and the high cost of retirement saving for the 5.5 million who are investing in retail mutual funds.
Talking heads: Top management talks too much, listens too little, HR pros say

The famous "wah, wah, wah" voice given to all adults in Charlie Brown cartoons may be attributed to companies' top management if execs are not careful. Survey results from Boston-based Novations Group find that many HR/benefits pros feel top brass spends too much time talking to employees and not enough listening to them.

"Five minutes about managing vacation envy" with Ceridian's Estelle Morrison

Summer is almost over, and yet many Canadians have still not used up any of their annual vacation days. In this week's podcast, Ceridian Director of Health Management Estelle Morrison discusses managing the "vacation envy" of those who didn't get away, and practical strategies for employers who want to ensure their employees get regular R&R.
METC rule changes: Muddying the waters for employer drug plans

This Watson Wyatt InfoFlash discusses implications of draft regulations intended to clarify the eligibility of medications for the medical expense tax credit. Unfortunately, the draft legislation considerably complicates matters for employers with private health services plans that cover over-the-counter drugs, especially those covering Quebec residents.