Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS, Author at Word on Benefits

What the New Liberal Government Means for Canadian Pension and Benefit Plan Sponsors

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

23 Oct 201502 Mar 2016

Three panelists offered their views during a recent International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans webcast, “Post-Election Pensions and Benefits Outlook: What to Expect.” Panelists said Justin Trudeau, prime minister-designate, and the new majority party will move forward on many campaign promises, including […]

Canada Employee Benefits Mental Health

Six Tips to Improve Workplace Mental Health

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

09 Oct 201512 Oct 2015

There’s growing recognition that workplaces affect mental health, and employers that focus on supporting mental wellness will reap the benefits, according to Heidi Weigand, director of the Centre for the Study of Sport and Health at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova […]

Canada Education Employee Benefits Flexible Work Options Paid Time Off (PTO) Pensions Retirement Vacation Work Life Balance

Generational Workforce Preferences Mean Serious Business

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

28 Sep 201519 May 2016

I’m always fascinated by discussions of the different age groups in the workplace and whether I fit the generational mold. But for employers facing a shortage of skilled workers, it’s actually serious business. “Generational cohort is a key predictor of what employees […]

Canada Employee Benefits Multiemployer

Complying With Bill C-377

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

10 Jul 201524 Jul 2015

Now that the controversial Bill C-377 has received Royal Assent, how should benefit plan sponsors respond? The bill first must survive a potential change in majority rule following this fall’s federal election and anticipated legal challenges. If it remains intact, experts say sponsors […]

Canada Employee Benefits

Reducing the Risk of a Privacy Breach

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

26 May 201519 May 2016

During the 2013 holiday shopping season, I was one of the millions of shoppers affected by the Target data breach. Fortunately, no fraudulent charges were posted to my card(s). I quickly received new debit and credit cards from my bank, but it […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Canada Employee Benefits Health Care

Private Health Care Exchanges in Canada?

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

17 Apr 2015

Could private health care exchanges similar to those operating in the United States be making their way into Canada? The answer is maybe. Industry representatives say some are exploring the viability of private health care exchanges in Canada. Here’s a little background. What […]

Canada Defined Benefit (DB) Plans Employee Benefits Regulatory Retirement

Ontario Moves Forward on Pension Plan With ORPP

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

19 Feb 201502 Mar 2016

Enhancing the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is expected to be an issue in October’s federal election, but in the meantime Ontario is moving forward with an effort to create its own Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP). The Ontario Ministry of Finance released […]

Canada Disease Management Employee Benefits Health Care Mental Health Wellness

Workplace Peer Support—a Success Story

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

03 Dec 201417 Jan 2015

By: Kathy Bergstrom If families and caregivers are included, mental health problems and illnesses affect almost everyone in some way. According to the Mental Health Commission Canada, Making the Case for Investing in Mental Health in Canada, more than 20% of the […]

Canada Defined Benefit (DB) Plans Employee Benefits Multiemployer Pensions

Aiming to Understand Target Benefit Plans

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

23 Sep 201417 Jan 2015

By: Kathy Bergstrom Target benefit plans (TBPs) remain a hot topic in the discussion around pension reform in Canada. They’ve been around for many years in the form of multi-employer pension plans, but now the federal government and many provinces are considering […]

Canada Employee Benefits

Award for a Lifetime of Service—the Envelope Please . . .

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

09 Sep 201417 Jan 2015

By: Kathy Bergstrom Joan Tanaka marked her 47th year working in benefits at the International Foundation’s 47th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference in Calgary last month, receiving the honour of the 2014 Canadian Lifetime Volunteer Award. The significance wasn’t lost on Tanaka. […]