News in brief: A look at news, facts and figures shaping the world of payroll professionals

Median Canadian household income virtually unchanged in 2009: StatsCan • CFIB grades the federal budget a B-plus • Compensation rising at law firms: Survey • Payroll earnings increased 0.5 per cent in March from February: StatsCan • Work absences down slightly: StatsCan • ADP appoints Carlos A. Rodriguez new president and chief operating officer • EI benefit recipients down in April but claim applications are up: StatsCan

Median Canadian household income virtually unchanged in 2009: StatsCan

Ottawa — The median after-tax household income for Canadians was $63,800 in 2009, virtually unchanged from the previous year, according to a new study from Statistics Canada. It was the second consecutive year without significant change in household incomes, on the tail of four years of growth, according to the report Income in Canada, 2009. Median market incomes for families with two or more people had the first significant drop since the early 1990s, falling 3.2 per cent to $63,000 in 2009. Some form of government transfer was received by about 86 per cent of families and 79 per cent of persons not living in families in 2009. The total amount of government transfers to all Canadians increased 10 per cent in 2009.

CFIB grades the federal budget a B-plus

Ottawa — The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) said it was pleased the June federal budget delivered on earlier commitments to small business, giving it a B-plus. Some key budget announcements for small business include an introduction of an EI hiring credit for small business that will exempt some small employers from paying EI premiums on an increase in their payroll, and ongoing work to introduce Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPP). While CFIB said it welcomed the ongoing work to introduce PRPPs, it is concerned with the reference to make “modest enhancements” to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). Another tax increase is not the answer, said the CFIB.

Compensation rising at law firms: Survey

Ottawa — A survey from Robert Half Legal found 79 per cent of lawyers polled said their firms or corporate legal departments plan to give pay raises or bonuses this year. The survey includes responses from 150 lawyers. About 15 per cent of those interviewed said no bonuses would be given at their firms or corporations this year. About seven per cent of those interviewed didn’t know about the status of bonuses or pay raises.

Payroll earnings increased 0.5 per cent in March from February: StatsCan

Ottawa — Non-farm payroll earnings increased 0.5 per cent in March 2011 compared to February, according to Statistics Canada. The average weekly earnings increased to $876.53. Compared to March 2010, average weekly earnings were 4.1 per cent higher in March 2011. Some of the growth in earnings is attributed to a growth in hours worked. Time worked in March was up 0.3 per cent to 33 hours a week. The rest of the increase is attributable to other factors including wage growth, changes in the composition of employment by industry and by occupation and level of job experience, according to the survey.

Work absences down slightly: StatsCan

Ottawa — Canadians stayed home from work less in 2010 than they did in 2009, according to data from Statistics Canada. Full-time employees lost an average of 9.1 days in 2010 for personal reasons, compared with 9.5 days in 2009. These numbers are up from a decade ago. In 2000, full-time employees missed an average of eight days. Women on maternity leave and men on parental leave were not included in the figures. Full-time employees were absent 7.4 days because of their own illness or disability, down from 7.8 days in 2009. In 2010, 1.7 days were lost for personal or family demands, unchanged from 2009. Full-time employees lost an estimated 100 million work days in 2010 for these reasons. Women lost more time than men did. Women were away from work 11 days compared with 7.6 days for their male counterparts. Workers with preschool-age children lost 3.1 days for personal or family responsibilities compared to 1.4 days for those without children.

ADP appoints Carlos A. Rodriguez new president and chief operating officer

Roseland, N.J. — ADP’s board of directors has appointed Carlos A. Rodriguez as its new president and chief operating officer, effective June 1. Rodriguez has been with ADP since 1999, most recently holding the position of president of national account services.

EI benefit recipients down in April but claim applications are up: StatsCan

Ottawa — The number of people receiving regular employment insurance (EI) benefits in April was down by 6,500 to 598,400, according to Statistics Canada. The decrease of 1.1 per cent compared to March marked the seventh consecutive month of declines. Beneficiaries decreased in six provinces, with the fastest declines in British Columbia and Alberta. In April, the number of people receiving regular EI benefits declined in six provinces, with the largest decreases in B.C. (down 3.7 per cent to 67,000) and Alberta (down 3.7 per cent to 37,600). Both provinces have had declines in beneficiaries for seven consecutive months.

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