On October 18, Computershare Canada hosted our first-ever Plans Day in Montreal. This full-day event featured topics that are top of mind for our Plans clients. The themes of the event were "The Future of Work" and "Global Mobility", and it brought together industry thought leaders who spoke on the latest trends.
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Workforce Megatrends – Reshaping the Future of Work |
The day kicked off with "Workforce Megatrends – Reshaping the Future of Work" presented by Richard Skippon and Antoine Mindjimba from EY. This presentation explored the changing nature of work. This is the first time five generations – Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z – have been in the workforce at the same time. More companies are hiring contingent workers, and advances in technology have made virtual work a reality. The most successful companies are rethinking and reorganizing the work environment to get the most from the knowledge and skills of their talent, and redefining how they can all work best together.
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Global Mobility |
Next, we moved on to "Global Mobility" presented by Narendra Acharya from Baker McKenzie. As the nature of work has become increasingly mobile with employees working virtually from different countries around the globe, this can have serious implications for tax, payroll, benefits and equity compensation. This session uncovered the many considerations and approaches for how companies can remain compliant.
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How CRA Taxation Rules Impact Stock Option Plans |
Éric Lévesque and Stephanie Weschler of Stikeman Elliott spoke on "How CRA Taxation Rules Impact Stock Options". When it comes to executive compensation, it is necessary to balance executive retention against the company and shareholder interests. This session reviewed the pros and cons of different plan types, while addressing the challenges of establishing the right plan from a tax and employment law perspective that benefits both the employee and employer.
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The Future of Executive Compensation |
In the afternoon, Domenico D'Alessandro and Robert Levasseur of Gallagher McDowall Associates explored "The Future of Executive Compensation". When we hear about executive compensation in the news, it is often presented in a negative context. This session discussed the hot topics in executive compensation, how performance is measured and rewarded, and debunked some of the myths. It also provided examples of some TSX 120 companies that have introduced novel approaches to executive compensation.
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Short-term Business Travellers – The Hidden Risk with Cross-border Travel |
Recent legislative changes have had a direct impact on cross-border mobility, and Josée Bennett and Jonathan Gomez-Trochez from EY discussed "Short-term Business Travellers – The Hidden Risk with Cross-border Travel". While companies with mobile employees are working hard to remain compliant, the tax changes as well as greater information sharing from border authorities have made it increasingly complex. This session explored some of the ways employers can protect themselves and their employees.
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Total Rewards 2030: What to Expect in the Next Ten Years |
To end the day, Gordon Frost of Mercer presented "Total Rewards 2030: What to Expect in the Next Ten Years". As work continues to evolve, so do the ways employees want to be recognized and rewarded. Their priorities and values vary between countries and by demographic segments. So how can companies design a total rewards package that will appeal to employees in different countries and across all life stages, that is feasible for employers at the same time? This session looked at the use of data and analytics to identify what employees value most, and presented the idea of a flexible total rewards package.
Thank you to all clients who took time out of their schedules to spend the day with us, and to the speakers for their informative and thought-provoking presentations.
We received excellent feedback on this event and are planning others in the future. Please tell us the topics you want to hear at the next Plans Day by sending an email to MarketingCanada@computershare.com.
