Hillary's HR Blog 🍁

An article on the structural barriers Indigenous women continue to face in workplace retirement plans and benefits programs was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Indigenous women face persistent barriers to workplace retirement, benefits plans: expert 2. […]

With roughly six million Canadians balancing work and caregiving responsibilities, employers are facing growing pressure to address the impact on productivity, retention and employee well-being. At Skip, these pressures are increasingly visible across the workforce, particularly among employees managing both childcare and elder-care responsibilities. “We recognize that our employees don’t leave th

Saskatchewan Blue Cross is engaging employees and supporting charitable initiatives through its employee giving program. Each year, the organization asks employees to decide which charitable organizations receive its not-for-profit dollars. This year, the program allocated more than $18,100 in support to 68 community organizations across Saskatchewan, all of which are registered charities with a f

The majority (85 per cent) of U.S. institutional asset owners rely on consultants to oversee manager selection, performance monitoring, asset allocation and even outsourced chief investment officer services, according to a new report by Crisil Coalition Greenwich. The report found the consulting industry has been reshaped following significant consolidation, adoption of the OCIO model, increased [

In 2023, women occupied 23.2 per cent of seats on boards of directors, increasing 0.5 percentage points compared to 2022 (22.7 per cent), according to a new report by Statistics Canada. The report found half (50.3 per cent) of boards didn’t include any women directors in 2023. In addition, 25.8 per cent of boards had one woman director, while boards […]

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is partnering with Sagard Real Estate to pursue an industrial outdoor storage investment strategy across major U.S. infill markets. The partnership has an initial target gross asset value of $490 million with the option to scale through further commitments, according to a press release. The new platform […]

Preventing benefits fraud is a core priority for the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association because it helps keep benefits plans accessible and affordable for the 27 million Canadians that depend on them, says Richelle Feddema, the organization’s senior manager of anti-fraud member management. Insurers are working together through the CLHIA’s ‘Fraud = Fraud’ program, […]

The de-globalization movement is the latest trend pushing emerging markets to increase collaboration with one another, says Indrani De, head of global investment research at FTSE Russell. After U.S. President Donald Trump announced global tariffs in April 2025, uncertainty around global trade began to increase and analysts expected emerging markets would be severely impacted, she […]

The Canadian pension risk transfer market reached roughly $6.8 billion in 2025, down from a record $11 billion in 2024, according to a new report by Sun Life Financial Inc. The report found these transactions consisted of risk transfers valued at less than $800 million, noting 115 defined benefit plan sponsors purchased group annuities in […]

As Canadian employers continue to experience economic strain from U.S. tariffs, it’s important for human resources professionals to focus on communication and creative strategies to retain talent, says Stephen Shore, a labour and employment lawyer at Littler LLP. While the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down President Donald Trump’s global tariffs implemented in April 2025, […]

Workplace wellness is evolving! Inclusive and accessible wellness practices refer to the support systems that work for employees regardless of age, role, background, location, or ability – and these wellness practices are increasingly becoming a key organizational goal. With increasingly age-diverse teams and global organizations, it is important for HR leaders to stay up to date with wellness bes

HR professionals today are expected to do more than manage processes, they are expected to influence business strategy, guide leadership decisions, and drive organizational performance. The new HR Business Partner Certificate Program , delivered by HRPA in partnership with CPHR Atlantic , is designed to help HR professionals develop the strategic capabilities needed to succeed in this evolving rol

Mélanie Presseault, MBA, CPHR, CRHA, is Senior Principal, Compensation at Normandin Beaudry and an accomplished HR and total rewards leader with over 20 years of experience shaping compensation and benefits strategies across industries in Montreal and Vancouver. She has led the design and implementation of total rewards programs that drive performance and growth. Mélanie has spearheaded rewards in

Workplace safety is not a “set it and forget it” exercise. Across Canada, governments are tightening expectations around workplace health and safety. Employers who fail to properly protect workers from occupational hazards can face serious consequences. Corporations, directors, officers, and even individuals may face significant fines and, in some cases, jail time for breaching Ontario

Every HR professional has been there. A complex workplace investigation lands on your desk. A leadership team needs training. Your organization is searching for the right HR technology. Or you simply need specialized expertise to support a project. In moments like these, HR professionals often turn to trusted partners. Consultants, trainers, investigators, coaches, and service providers who bring

If you employ people, AI is already part of your workplace. It’s not really a prediction so much as the current reality. Employees are using AI tools to write emails, summarize meetings, polish reports, prepare presentations, and speed through everyday tasks. Many are doing it quietly, and some are doing it without understanding the risks. Others assume it’s fine because no one told them otherwise

Ignite Wellness 2026 is back to continue the conversation! Workplace well-being is moving into a new age, and this means going beyond perks and programs and into real change. As workplace wellbeing becomes more important with challenges like an aging workplace, rising burnout rates , and economic headwinds, wellness has become a core leadership responsibility. This means plenty of opportunities fo