Recent Success Stories

• Provided international health and benefits benchmarking to help partner broker’s discussions with a private equity prospect.

• Implemented group travel medical plan for an asset management firm.

• Secured group benefits package for a tech firm in India.

European Union

The European Parliament has approved new guidelines to improve protections and benefits for gig workers. Companies such as Door Dash and Uber consider their drivers and delivery people independent contractors who are not entitled to the same benefits a full-time regular employee would receive. A series of criteria has been established to determine whether a platform will be reclassified as an “employer”. As a result, a right to a minimum wage, paid vacation, pensions, unemployment, and sickness benefits will likely be coming to thousands of former gig workers. Workers will also receive protection rights including the ability to appeal automated decisions such as having their account suspended or disabled. The directive will still need to be ratified by each EU member state and local governments to take effect. Lobbying groups representing Uber and Freenow have expressed their displeasure as it creates legal uncertainty.   

Canada

The Canada Revenue Agency has announced adjustments for several retirement schemes, including the maximum pensionable earnings under the Canada Pension Plan for the upcoming year. The maximum pensionable earnings under the CPP will increase from $66,600 to $68,500. This ceiling increase will raise the maximum annual combined contribution to $3,867.50. In addition, a second earnings ceiling has been established at $73,200. Earnings in between $68,500 and $73,200 will be subject to a 4% contribution, in addition to the base 5.95% contribution rate. Both employees and employers will be responsible for making contributions to the pension plan. Also from the announcement, Canadians should anticipate an increase in the Tax-Free Savings Account limit to $7,000. These new ceilings were calculated in accordance with the CPP legislation and take into account the growth in average weekly wages and salaries in Canada.

Germany

As a result of upcoming budget decreases, the qualifying income limit for parental allowance (Elterngeld) will slightly decline in the next couple of years. Parents are allowed a combined 14 months of leave to care for their new child. Currently only parents with less than EUR 300,000 of taxable income are eligible for this benefit under the Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act. Starting April 1, 2024, eligibility will be restricted to those parents making less than EUR 200,000 of taxable income. On April 1, 2025, this threshold will fall to EUR 175,000, but for single parents, the upper limit will remain at EUR 250,000.