October 2, 2023

In this episode: about dropping consumer confidence, increase in minimum wages in several provinces, Unifor bargaining, benefits trends and other topics. Stay with us to get the latest HR updates.

Follow us on: X @cadHRnews; Yotube @ Canada HR News - YouTube; LinkedIn @ Canada HR News Podcast.

1. The Conference board of Canada reports another decline of Consumer Confidence in August | Consumer Confidence Falls to Its Second Lowest Point to Date - The Conference Board of Canada 
2. On October 1 there were minimum wage hikes in six province | Ontario minimum wage rises to $16.55 an hour; advocates say still not a living wage (yahoo.com), ‘It’s heartless’: No increases to Alberta’s minimum wage in 5 years (msn.com)
3. A lot of older workers are applying for jobs, many of these jobs are at entry level | More older workers are applying for jobs, many of them at entry level, according to a recent survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals. #CanadaEmployed (expresspros.com) 
4. Service Canada launched the Retirement Hub | Canadians can now access improved Service Canada tools to support and plan for retirement - Canada.ca 
5. Canada’s life and health insurers paid out a record $114 billion dollars in health and retirement benefits last year | Life and health insurers paid out a record $114 billion in 2022, helping to make life more affordable: CLHIA - Insurance-Canada.ca - Where Insurance & Technology Meet 
6. Negotiations between Unifor and General Motors are underway to secure a tentative agreement that follows the pattern set with Ford Canada | Bargaining update #21: Unifor sets deadline in General Motors negotiations - Unifor Auto Talks 2023 (uniforautohub.ca) 
7. October is Canada's Healthy Workplace Month | CHWM 2022 | October is Canada's Healthy Workplace Month