September 30 is the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, honouring and promoting reflection and understanding of the ongoing injustices faced by Indigenous communities.
LifeSpeak experts examine these impacts to help us better understand the intergenerational trauma that contributes to the mental health and wellbeing of Indigenous People. Explore allyship, empowerment, and how decolonizing our minds and practices can help us all create a more culturally safe environment in which Indigenous community members can reconnect with their cultural identities and heal intergenerational trauma.
Click on the following resources to learn more:
On September 20th at 12:00 p.m. ET the Ask the Expert web chat will be on improving your sleep, one tip at a time.
Check out your LifeSpeak platform now! Log in using the Group Account option. The password is "wellness".
Learn more about Indigenous Justice with these books!
Check out our UCC Orange Shirt Day Action page at www.united-church.ca/social-action/act-now/honour-children-who-attended-residential-schools.
Amid widespread reporting about the risks of artificial general intelligence, Alphabet (formerly Google) shareholders voted on June 2 on a proposal, filed by SHARE on behalf of the Pension Plan of The United Church of Canada, requesting third-party scrutiny of the company’s targeted advertising system.
The proposal calls for the company to undertake a human rights impact assessment and states the growing concerns surrounding Alphabet’s advertising infrastructure’s heavy reliance on technology, including artificial intelligence, which has not been subject to a robust human rights due diligence process. This kind of assessment would identify, address, and prevent the potential adverse human rights impact of targeted advertising technologies.
“Alphabet’s targeted advertising business represents about 80% of the company’s revenue, which means that until a rigorous assessment is done, its shareholders are exposed to a litany of regulatory, legal and reputational risks,” said Sarah Couturier-Tanoh, Associate Director Corporate Engagement and Advocacy at SHARE. “Ultimately, the lack of clear oversight puts investors’ long-term value at risk.”
Proxy advisory firms Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services, and large U.S.-based pension funds CalPERS, CalSTRS, New York City pension funds, and Norges Bank all agreed with SHARE’s perspective on the matter.
The proposal received 47% support from independent shareholders and 18% overall. The sharp difference between these two figures is explained by the multi-class stock structure conferring 10 votes for 1 share held by Alphabet’s management. SHARE opposes multi-class stock structures as a general principle of good corporate governance.
While our shareholder proposal ultimately did not pass, the nearly 50% support of independent shareholders is a strong signal to Alphabet management that there is great concern about, and now scrutiny of, their targeted advertising system. Often corporate engagement is a process of incremental gains requiring persistence. Persistence is something that the Pension Fund of The United Church of Canada has in abundance when it comes to investing responsibly!
Psychological wellness doesn’t just make us feel good—it makes us more resilient. It helps us overcome challenging situations and stay connected to others. As some of us will return to work after the Summer break, LifeSpeak experts are sharing some tools along the topic of health and safety at work, creating a mentally healthy workplace and much more. Discover the resources to learn more.
On August 22nd at 12:00 p.m. ET the Ask the Expert web chat will be on navigating the back to school transition.
Check out your LifeSpeak platform now! Log in using the Group Account option. The password is "wellness".
Summer has arrived, and our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers a variety of summer-themed resources to support your mental health.
Resources you can download include:
You can also download the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resource guide here.
For more information, please visit www.lifeworks-learning.com/?sfid=787&_sf_s=self%20care&_sft_audience=employeesrkplace Learning (lifeworks-learning.com).
Annual member statements for the 2022 plan year will be issued to active, deferred, and retired members of the pension plan at the end of June 2023.
Remember that if you have a spouse they will automatically receive any pre-retirement death benefit as per pension legislation. However, you should also designate a beneficiary in case your spouse pre-deceases you.
If you need to declare a spouse or designate a beneficiary, please scan the QR code to fill out the secure form that will be submitted directly to the Benefits Centre. If you have not received your statement, please contact pension@united-church.ca to ensure the address on file is correct.
If you have not begun receiving your pension, the statement will contain a box that looks something like this:
| Your Pension | Your Future |
| FOR EVERY YEAR YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE PENSION PLAN YOU INCREASE YOUR RETIREMENT INCOME | $XX,XXX
THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE EARNED ALREADY |
| IN 2022, YOU EARNED
$X,XXX THIS IS ADDED TO THE ANNUAL PENSION YOU’VE ALREADY EARNED |
+ XX,XXX
YOUR PROJECTED ANNUAL PENSION TO AGE 65 |
| + 15,679
MAXIMUM C/QPP BENEFITS (in January 2023)
|
|
| + 8,292
MAXIMUM OAS BENEFITS (April to June 2023) |
|
| = $XX,XXX
YOUR TOTAL ANNUAL PENSION EARNED TO DECEMBER 31, 2022 |
= $XX,XXX
YOUR ESTIMATED ANNUAL RETIREMENT INCOME (excluding other employer pensions or personal savings) |
THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE EARNED ALREADY - is calculated based on your pensionable earnings and years of credited service.
YOUR PROJECTED ANNUAL PENSION TO AGE 65 – is an estimate based on the assumption that you continue to work in the same job category until you reach age 65. If you stop working before that, or if your pensionable earnings change, this amount will also change.
MAXIMUM C/QPP BENEFITS – The amount shown as an example on your pension statement is the maximum amount payable under the Canada Pension Plan. Not all Canadians receive the maximum possible payout from the Canada Pension Plan. Please note that the average annual amount of CPP paid to new recipients in 2022 was $8,433.
In order to determine your personal benefit under the Canada Pension Plan, you can request a Personal Access Code (PAC). You can use this code to register for My Service Canada Account, which will provide access to your personal record of contributions and benefits earned under the Canada Pension Plan.
MAXIMUM OAS BENEFITS – Old Age Security is a pension you can receive if you are 65 years of age or older and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years. The amount you receive depends on your income and how long you lived in Canada or specific countries after the age of 18. If your net income (line 23600 of your income tax return) exceeds an income threshold ($79,845, for 2023) you have to repay some or all of your OAS pension.
When planning for retirement, all of these sources of income, as well as your personal savings and any pension from previous employers should be considered. We recommend that you consult with a financial planner to help with the financial aspects of your retirement planning.
Everyone is unique – we all have qualities that make up the very fabric of who we are as people. Through talents and traits, we all revel in our triumphs in diverse ways. In other words, how you view your own success is up to you. So, are you ready to cultivate your strengths to enhance your overall wellbeing?
Self-care takes many forms and finding what works best for you is the key to putting your best self forward. In this campaign, our experts will lead you through comprehensive practices in prioritizing and investing in yourself. From building stronger connections with others to exploring creativity and the power of positivity, you will unlock personal strengths to elevate your own growth and development.
On July 19th at 12:00 p.m. ET the Ask the Expert web chat will provide you Self-Care Tips to Boost Your Performance and Reduce Stress.
Check out your LifeSpeak platform now! Log in using the Group Account option. The password is "wellness".
Pride Month is celebrated by millions of people, and it’s a great time for everyone to embrace who they are and display it proudly. To celebrate, we’re sharing expert-led mental health and wellbeing resources on the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and mental health. Discover these resources to learn more.
On June 21st at 12:00 p.m. ET the Ask the Expert web chat will be on Improving Your Well-being at Work.
Check out your LifeSpeak platform now! Log in using the Group Account option. The password is "wellness".
As we approach Pride Month, we want to emphasize our commitment to inclusivity and support for our LGBTQ+ employees and their loved ones. Our Employee Assistance Program offers a range of resources, including:
Please click here to learn more about our Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion Programs.
Download your resources here!
Download your resources here! (Zip file)
We are pleased to announce that the United Church of Canada (UCC) Pension Plan emerged as a top contender in the 2022 Pension Leadership Awards. The plan's Pension Fund Manager, Derek Hurst, was nominated for the Investment Officer of the Year award.
Although the UCC Pension Plan was a finalist in its category, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Pension Plan ultimately won the award.
This is not the first time the UCC Plan has been recognized for its outstanding achievements. At the 2021 Pension Leadership Awards, the plan was shortlisted for its investment practices under the Sustainable Investing Award category with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation.
The Investment Officer of the Year award is presented to an Investment Officer who has demonstrated leadership when it comes to pension investing and made demonstrable improvements to their organization’s investment process. Environmental, social and governance factors are also taken into account.
For more details, visit www.benefitscanada.com/microsite/microsite-cir/pension-leadership-awards-2022/winners-and-finalists/.
Everyone has their own mental health story and all are equally valuable. These different journeys showcase the importance of mental health care and why it’s needed for all. To raise awareness of mental health and promote well-being, we’re providing resources to support you and your loved ones.
On May 23rd at 12:00 p.m. ET the Ask the Expert web chat will be on Managing Mental Health in Times of Uncertainty.
Check out your LifeSpeak platform now! Log in using the Group Account option. The password is "wellness".
