Canadian Benefits

For Full-Time Employees

Below is a general description of the majority of benefits provided to our full-time Canadian employees. Please refer to your Business Practices Guide, Personnel Policies and Benefits Summary for more complete information.

Time Off
Canadian employees outside of Quebec
ChoiceTime
(does not include Saskatchewan)
Less than 1 year
Earn 1 ChoiceTime day at end of each calendar month up to seven days maximum before next anniversary
1 or more years
Receive 7 ChoiceTime days each anniversary
Vacation
Receive vacation days at end of anniversary year. Vacation may vary by province.
  Less than 1 year: 0 weeks
  1st – 4th anniversary: 2 weeks
  5th – 9th anniversary: 3 weeks
  10th – 19th anniversary: 4 weeks
  20th or more anniversary: 5 weeks
Quebec Employees
ChoiceTime
 
Less than 1 year employment
Earn one ChoiceTime day at end of each calendar month up to a maximum which varies depending on month of hire as follows:*
Hire Date   Choice Days
Aug 1 - Oct 31   4
Nov 1 - Jan 31   3
Feb 1 - Apr 30   2
May 1 - Jul 31   1
1 or more years employment
Receive 7 ChoiceTime days each August 1
Vacation
Receive vacation days at end of fiscal year
Less than 1 year
One vacation day for each month of uninterrupted service (not to exceed 2 weeks)
1 – 4 years
of cumulative service will receive 2 weeks
5 – 9 years
of cumulative service will receive 3 weeks
10 – 19 years
of cumulative service will receive 4 weeks
20 or more years
of cumulative service will receive 5 weeks
Holidays
(Holidays may vary by province)
New Years Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day

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Health
Extended Health
Medical Insurance
Health coverage supplements provincial health plans in your home Province and out of province emergency care.
Provider
Manulife Financial
Premium Taxable
No, except in Quebec.
Effective Date
1st day of the 3rd consecutive month following full-time date of hire
Medical Deductibles
No deductible
Medical Benefits
Hospital and Vision – Plan pays 100% of covered expenses to benefit maximum. For all other covered expenses, plan pays 80% to benefit maximum. (Orthotics, Health Practitioners, etc.)
Prescription Drugs
Pay Direct Drug Card
$7.00 dispensing fee cap

Dynamic Therapeutic Formulary (DTF) Drugs covered at 80% until out-of-pocket maximum reached and 100% afterwards

ManuScript Generic Drug Plan 2 (MGP2) Drugs covered at 60% until out-of-pocket maximum reached and 100% afterwards
Drug Deductible
$25 per individual/family
Annual Out-Of-Pocket
$2,000 per perscription
Overall Lifetime Benefit Maximum
$1,000,000
Dental
Provider
Manulife Financial
Cost
Included in the cost of Extended Health coverage. Offered as a packaged benefit only
Effective Date
1st day of the 3rd consecutive month following full-time date of hire
Deductible
None
Benefit
100% of diagnostic and preventative services*
*According to applicable provincial fee guide.
50% of all other covered services
$1,500 yearly maximum per patient

Orthodontia for dependent children thru age 18 - $1,500 lifetime maximum
Employee Assistance Program
(EAP)/WorkLife Solutions
Provider
Shepell·fgi
Cost
No cost to employee
Effective Date
1st day of the 3rd consecutive month following full-time date of hire
Benefit
24-hour confidential counseling
and resource and referral services:
English: 1-800-268-5211
French: 1-800-363-3872

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Life and Disability
Basic Life Insurance
Provider
RBC Insurance
Cost
No cost to employee
Effective Date
1st day of the 3rd consecutive month following full-time date of hire
Benefit
Before age 70:
2x previous calendar years wages ($30,000 minimum/$300,000 maximum)

Age 70 +:
67% of 2x previous calendar years wages
Supplemental Life Insurance
Optional Life Insurance
Employee
Provider
RBC Insurance
Cost
Rates are calculated using age, smoker/non-smoker and annual pay
Effective Date
1st day of the 3rd consecutive month following full-time date of hire
Benefit
Employees entering plan when first eligible may purchase additional life insurance at 1x, 2x, or 3x annual pay (Basic and Optional Life combined cannot exceed $500,000 maximum)
Dependant Life Insurance
Spouse/Child
Provider
RBC Insurance
Cost
Spouse: $10,000/$.33 per biweekly pay period
$25,000/$.83 per biweekly pay period
Child(ren): $5,000/$.36 per biweekly pay period
$10,000/$.72 per biweekly pay period
Effective Date
1st day of the 3rd consecutive month following full-time date of hire
Benefit
Employees entering the plan when first eligible may purchase life insurance for spouse at $10,000 or $25,000; child(ren) at $5,000 or $10,000
  Employees waiving Supplemental Life Insurance coverage when initially eligible will be limited to the Plan's first level of coverage for both Optional and Dependant Life coverage during the following Open Enrolment period. In subsequent years, during Open Enrolment, you may increase your coverage by only one level (e.g.: from 1x to 2x annual pay).  
Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Provider
RBC Insurance
Cost
No cost to employee
Effective Date
1st day of the 3rd consecutive month following full-time date of hire
Benefit
Equal to the amount of the Basic Life Insurance benefit for death caused by accident, or death occurring within 365 days of accident. In addition to Basic Life Insurance:
Before age 70:
2x previous calendar years wages

Age 70 +:
67% of 2x previous calendar years wages
Long-Term Disability (LTD)
Provider
RBC Insurance
Cost
No cost to employee
Effective Date
1st day of the 3rd consecutive month following full-time date of hire
Eligibility
Total disability for 90 calendar days (to age 65)
Benefit
If approved, 66.7% of average gross monthly income ($100 minimum per month/$12,500 maximum per month)

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Retirement Program
Deferred Profit Sharing Plan (DPSP)
Administrator
Manulife Financial
Cost
No cost to employee
Eligibility
Employees with one full year of continuous service and 1,000 hours of service in the calendar year
Company Match
The company matches your RRSP contributions, dollar for dollar, up to 3% of your pay each pay period
Profit Sharing Contribution
Each year, the company determines if a discretionary contribution will be made to its employee retirement savings plans. While past contributions are not a guarantee of future contributions, historically the company has contributed 5 percent of pretax profits to its employee retirement savings plans. The portion of the company contribution that is not used for the company match will be allocated to eligible employees via an annual profit sharing contribution. The amount allocated to individual accounts is based on a formula that takes into account each employee's eligible compensation. Eligibility is limited to non-union employees.
Investment
Employees may select from an approved list of funds offered by Manulife Financial, for the company contributions. Earnings allocate to each participant's individual account
Vesting
100% vested after three years of continuous employment with the company.
Benefit
Vested value of account paid at retirement, termination, death, total disability
Maximum Contribution through 2010: $11,225.
Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)
Administrator
Manulife Financial
Eligibility
1st day of 3rd consecutive month (Voluntary participation)
Contributions
Employees may defer 1% - 18% of gross wages.
Contributions are fully vested at all times (RRSP dollar limits apply)
Withdrawal Options
Home Buyers' Plan or Life-Long Learning Plan
Investment
13 diverse investment selections available
Maximum Deferral through 2010: $22,000 (combined for DPSP/RRSP)

Note: C.O.P.E. Local 378 Union employees should contact their local HR administrator for information on their retirement program benefit.

This is just a general description of the Plan provisions. Please refer to your Member Booklet for more complete information.

Additional Benefits
Leaves of Absence
Employee Referral Program
Service Award Program
Employee Discounts
Company Sponsored Events/Activities
Adoption Assistance
Maternity Leave Phase Back

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Forms and Resources

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/WorkLife Solutions
English: 1-800-268-5211
French: 1-800-363-3872

For more information and resources visit www.shepellfgi.com/go/members

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