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Canadian defined benefit pension plans ' financial health improves in 2021
Aon , a leading global professional services firm , has announced that the aggregate funded ratio for Canadian pension plans in the S & P / TSX Composite Index increased from 89.4 % to 97.2 % during the past 12 months , according to the Aon Pension Risk Tracker .
The Aon Pension Risk Tracker calculates the aggregate funded position on an accounting basis for the companies in the S & P / TSX Composite Index with Defined Benefit ( DB ) plans . The tool uses Aon ' s Risk Analyser platform , which allows plan sponsors to track their individual plan ' s funded status on a daily basis . Versions of the Pension Risk Tracker are also available for the S & P 500 in the US and several indices in the UK .
" 2021 was a spectacular year for Canadian pension plans funding , with both interest rates and risk-seeking assets going up ," said Erwan Pirou , Canada Chief Investment Officer , Wealth Solutions , Aon . " But with inflation reaching record highs in North America , they will be watching closely if central banks deliver on the expected rate hikes in the next few months and how meaningful they will be . Longer-term , ensuring the sustainability of plan assets to climate change is becoming a more pressing issue as well ."
Employee wellness trends for 2022
To better understand the future of employee well-being in a post-COVID-19 world , particularly the renewed focus on a holistic approach , Wellable Labs conducted its annual Employee Wellness Industry Trends Report .
The report , compiled after surveying companies trusted advisors , their health insurance brokers , explores investment trends , decision influencers and vendor criteria .
1 % of surveyed brokers believe their clients have a strong understanding of how well employees are managing chronic workplace stress and they are taking action to combat this .
4 . Telemedicine adoption and utilisation are soaring . Due to the sharp rise in remote work and safety concerns at health offices , the adoption of telemedicine accelerated rapidly since the pandemic began and continues to climb .
The findings underscore four clear employee benefits trends company decision-makers should plan for in 2022 .
1 . Employers are prioritising mental health programmes for employees . Mental health programmes are seeing a rapid increase in adoption and investment in the workplace as COVID-19 triggers mental health conditions .
2 . Virtual employee benefits are now the preference as employers expand their offerings . According to brokers , 72 % of employers who expect to be investing more in health and well-being will do so completely or mostly virtually . Examples of such benefits include on-demand fitness classes , health education and literacy , health coaching and health fairs .
3 . Brokers are encouraging corporate clients to adopt a strategy for managing chronic workplace stress . Only a mere
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