Failed tech projects, wellness disconnects, communication pitfalls and funding roadmaps
This month’s top articles from Buck Consultants, plus links to the latest regulatory updates and the Buck Blog
In this issue:
Technology | Global
Health and Productivity | Canada
Communication | Canada
Investments | Global
Legislation | Canada
Why are failed technology projects so common?
“Today HR professionals need technology to manage data and information, conduct analyses, provide reports, and recognize trends and issues in the workforce. If technology plays such a critical role, why are failed technology projects so common?.” Read Balancing design and technology: Why are failed technology projects so common, a Buck white paper by Scot Marcotte, Nancy Emerson and Larry Reissman.
Health and Productivity | Canada
The wellness disconnect
“The US has clearly led the way in wellness because… the employer burden for healthcare costs is huge… I think it’s time for the rest of the world to wake up and look at stress and how to reduce stress in the workplace.” Read The wellness disconnect interview with Michele Bossi, in this Benefits Canada article.
Watch for the special Canadian report on the 2011 Buck Global Wellness Survey results in the next issue of Exchange.
Avoiding common pitfalls in pension communication
“When asked about member communication, most companies will say ‘We do a lot of pension communication to our members – we have a booklet, a website with an online modeler and we even do face-to-face information sessions.’ Sounds like all the bases are covered, right? Not necessarily.” Read Avoiding common pitfalls in pension communication by David McCullagh (originally published as Comment éviter les pièges les plus courants dans la communication des régimes de retraite in Avantages magazine.
Pension funding: know where you’re going
“Rather than spending time listening to your investment manager drone on about the impact that decreasing coffee production in Columbia is going to have on domestic insurance stocks (because nobody drinks more coffee than those guys), perhaps more time could be spent by the committee reassessing the investment objectives and monitoring progress relative to those objectives.” Read Pension funding: know where you’re going by Robin Pond in Benefits Canada.
Recently released Canada Revenue Agency forms and guides; changes to OHIP
Recently released CRA forms
- RC243 Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) Return
- RC243-SCH-B Schedule B – Non-Resident Contributions to a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)
Recently released CRA Guides
- RC4157 Deducting Income Tax on Pension and Other Income, and Filing the T4A Slip and Summary
- T4040 RRSPs and Other Registered Plans for Retirement – 2010
- T4013 T3 – Trust Guide 2010
- RC4466 Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), Guide for Individuals
- T4015 T5 Guide – Return of Investment Income
- T4041 Retirement Compensation Arrangements Guide 2010
New evidence and quality-based changes to OHIP
Proposed changes to OHIP payments for health services include:
- New fee codes for CT (virtual) colonoscopy and CT cardiac angiography that will clarify when the procedure is covered by OHIP.
- Removal of payments for sinus ultrasound as this procedure has proven to be ineffective.
- Restriction of payments for pre-operative testing prior to certain procedures, such as colonoscopy, cystoscopy, carpal tunnel release, and arthroscopy, as evidence indicates it is not effective.
Sponsors should be aware of these changes and review their medical plan coverage with their providers or consultants, but in most cases there won’t be an impact. For more information go to New evidence and quality-based changes proposed for OHIP.
