Media Advisory - Morneau Shepell to present new research on salary and other trends in human resources at annual breakfast event

Alberta organizations expect the lowest salary increases in the country in 2016

CALGARY, Sept. 11, 2015 /CNW/ - Morneau Shepell invites members of the media to attend a breakfast presentation of the national and regional findings of its annual survey of Trends in Human Resources.

According to the recently released survey, employers across Canada expect salaries to rise by an average of 2.5 per cent in 2016, which is down from the average 2.8 per cent salary increase expected for 2015.

Against the backdrop of the decline in oil prices, Alberta is expected to have the lowest salary increases across the country at 2.2 per cent in 2016 – down from the 3.4 per cent estimated in last year's survey, which was among the highest in the country at the time. Also, 39 per cent of Alberta organizations identified the reduction of workers' compensation costs as a top priority for 2016 – the highest in the country compared to the national rate of 25 per cent.

The survey also identified some important changes in employer attitudes to retirement plans. In the past, sponsors of defined contribution pension plans left it up to their employees to fend for themselves when they retired. Poor decisions can have a very significant impact on retirement income, and plan sponsors are starting to take notice. About 27 per cent of sponsors in the survey said they are looking at providing payment options for retirees, or are already doing this.

Industry experts at the seminar will present the new research in detail, including regional variances and current challenges and opportunities being faced by human resources leaders.

Media interviews can be arranged.

Calgary Event Details

What:	Breakfast seminar on the 33^rd edition of Morneau Shepell's annual survey of Trends in Human Resources
When:	Thursday, September 17, 2015 from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. MT
Where:	Sheraton Suites Eau Claire, 255 Barclay Parade SW, Calgary – Map and Directions
Who:	The breakfast seminar will feature a number of speakers, including:

• Norah Joyce, Managing Partner, Western Canada, Morneau Shepell
  • Executive host
• JP Girard, Partner, Prairie Region, Morneau Shepell
  • Moderator
  • Topic: HR priorities
• Kieran O'Reilly, Vice President, HR Programs and Operations, Morneau Shepell
  • Topic: compensation
• Dr. Tyler Amell, Partner, Morneau Shepell
  • Topic: workplace health and engagement
• Shaun Mckee, Senior Consultant, Health and Benefits, Morneau Shepell /
  Jason Olandesca, Director, Absence Management Solutions, Morneau Shepell
  • Topic: data analytics, and absence and disability
• Andrea Knoll, ‎Senior Consultant, Retirement Solutions, Morneau Shepell
  • Topic: retirement

Breakfast seminars will be held throughout September in Toronto, Cambridge, Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, Ottawa, Fredericton, St. John's, Montreal and Quebec City.  

Morneau Shepell's 33^rd annual Trends in Human Resources survey was conducted between mid-June and the end of July 2015, with input from organizations employing 640,000 people in Canada. The benchmark organizations represent a broad cross-section of industry sectors.

About Morneau Shepell Inc.

Morneau Shepell is the only human resources consulting and technology company that takes an integrative approach to employee assistance, health, benefits and retirement needs. The Company is the leading provider of employee and family assistance programs, the largest administrator of retirement and benefits plans and the largest provider of integrated absence management solutions in Canada. Through health and productivity, administrative, and retirement solutions, Morneau Shepell helps clients reduce costs, increase employee productivity and improve their competitive position. Established in 1966, Morneau Shepell serves approximately 20,000 clients, ranging from small businesses to some of the largest corporations and associations in North America. With almost 4,000 employees in offices across North America, Morneau Shepell provides services to organizations across Canada, in the United States, and around the globe. Morneau Shepell is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.

SOURCE Morneau Shepell Inc.

For additional information or to RSVP, please contact: Nathan Gibson, Morneau Shepell, 416-390-2641, [email protected]; Heather MacDonald, Kaiser Lachance Communications, 647-725-2520 ext. 207, [email protected]