Insurable Interest Canadian Insurance Blog

New research shows disconnect between the importance employees place on benefits decisions and how infrequently many engage with benefits outside enrollment season Findings highlight opportunity for employers to provide more year-round benefits education New York, NY (Oct. 14, 2026) – As open enrollment season approaches, a new survey from New York Life finds that employees are approaching workplace benefits more like consumers evaluating purchases than workers selecting employer-provided perks. The findings point to a disconnect between the importance employees place on benefits decisions and how infrequently many engage with voluntary benefits outside enrollment season. This creates an opportunity for employers to make benefits education more relevant and accessible throughout the year. Results indicate: Against a backdrop of financial pressure, seventy-one percent of workers closely evaluate whether voluntary benefits provide good value for their money, rising to 83 percent among Gen Z employees. Sixty-five percent say they have not used or explored voluntary benefit options outside the open enrollment period. Half of employees primarily think about benefits only during open enrollment. Just 15 percent think about benefits throughout the year. The findings are especially relevant amid continued household financial pressure: 54 percent cite inflation and the cost of living as a...

Seattle, WA (Oct. 15, 2026) – As enterprises worldwide pour billions into artificial intelligence, a stark reality has emerged: few AI investments deliver meaningful business results. Kotter is pleased to announce the AI Value Accelerator, a rapid, unified engagement toolset designed to break leadership teams out of the cycle of siloed AI activity and drive tangible, bottom-line value. “The market is caught in a cycle of AI-related frenetic activity which is predominantly not creating value, with many organizations struggling to move beyond ‘check the box’ adoption,” said Kathy Gersch, Kotter’s Chief Executive Officer. “Furthermore, this rapid technology deployment triggers a range of survive responses from fear of job displacement to burnout and loss of control. Our AI Value Accelerator inverts the model. We must stop trying to build isolated ‘AI strategies’ and instead define exactly how AI will accelerate core business strategy.” Designed for teams and leaders caught in a cycle of AI activity without purpose or a clear hypothesis for accelerating business strategy and driving value, Kotter’s AI Value Accelerator forces a critical paradigm shift. A Rapid Engagement Focused on Deliverables The AI Value Accelerator serves as a critical front-end product that evaluates an organization’s starting line and aligns...

Marketers Should Prepare for More Fragmented Discovery Journeys Stamford, CT (Oct. 14, 2026) – More than one-third, or 34%, of U.S. consumers report being very or extremely willing to use Gen AI-backed tools or chatbots for holiday gift recommendations, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc., a business and technology insights company. A Gartner survey of 1,004 US consumers conducted in August 2026 found that AI is emerging as a potential avenue for shopping inspiration, though traditional discovery and purchase channels remain dominant. “AI is beginning to establish a role in the holiday shopping journey, but it is not replacing the channels consumers already use,” said Emily Weiss, Sr Principal Analyst in the Gartner Marketing practice. “Consumers who use AI for holiday shopping are also consulting a wider range of other sources, meaning marketers should prepare for more fragmented discovery journeys.” AI Expands, Rather Than Replaces, Holiday Shopping Discovery Retailer websites, traditional internet searches, and friends’ and family wishlists remain the most common sources of holiday shopping inspiration. In-store shopping and Amazon are also expected to remain the leading purchase channels, with 77% of consumers planning to shop in stores and 75% planning to shop on Amazon. Consumers who currently use...