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Supporting EMPLOYERS during the COVID-19 outbreak

We recognize that this is a busy, challenging and evolving environment for healthcare workers.

This environment has introduced some unique operational challenges for you, including:

  • introduction of two new classes of emergency leaves under the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA)

  • introduction of temporary pandemic pay

  • an increase in the number of retired employees rejoining

their employers 

  • the workforce 

  • more employees requiring emergency leaves from work  

Below you will find some key points to assist you in

addressing

administering HOOPP during these challenges and information about changes HOOPP

is making

has made to provide additional support for members and employers.

Employees requiring emergency leaves

The government has announced two new classes of leaves to the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA): 

  • Declared Emergencies 

  • Infectious Disease Emergencies  

If you have granted either of these types of leave for a member, please use the category “Emergency Leave” when you submit the leave information to HOOPP. For additional information visit the Continued HOOPP benefit for unpaid emergency leaves Page.

For more information on these topics and more, please refer to the Employer Administration Manual and Learning Centre. You can also reach out to your Regional Manager who can help you along the way. (why are we referring them to the LC when they’ve on the LC. we should have our standards ‘top of the page disclaimer regarding this is education and for plan rules please use admin manul etc’)

Continued HOOPP benefits for members on new unpaid emergency leaves

During these challenging times we understand members may experience disruptions in their regular work, but we want to ensure their pensions are protected and can continue to grow. For that reason, HOOPP will provide any member that takes placed on an unpaid a COVID-19 related unpaid emergency leave, or is within the first 15 weeks of an unpaid health leave, with contributory service at no cost to you or them.We recognize that many members on leave during this crisis will continue to be paid and will have the option to keep growing their pension. Now, with this benefit in place, those on these unpaid leaves will also be able to continue

  • This means members can continue building their pension

,

  • based on what they normally would have earned in the Plan, during the unpaid leave. This benefit will apply for the period of emergency declared by the government of Ontario.

 Please note, the process for reporting leaves remains unchanged. In the upcoming weeks we will provide more information on how we will support you through this initiative. If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Manager or your Employer Services Specialist.

  • You should continue to submit all leave information to HOOPP through the normal process. in the fall, or at the end of the declared state of emergency HOOPP will reach out to you to obtain information for reach member currently on an unpaid emergency leave to confirm if this was for one of the two new COVID emergency leave categories. We will then apply the free service directly to the member record

Extension for contribution payments for leaves of absence

As part of our continued efforts to support our members, we are extending the timeline for members to make pension contributions following a leave of absence. The current timeline of 6 months from the end of a leave has been extended to 12 months and applies to all leaves of absence. For additional information visit the Extension of Member Contributions for leaves of absences Page.

You can should continue to submit all leave information and payments to HOOPP through the normal processes. We will provide you with additional details and resources in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Regional Manager or Employee Services Specialist.

Extending deadlines for free accrual applications 

To provide members with more flexibility in light of the current environment, we have extended the deadline for disability benefits applications to a maximum of six months. As a result, it may take longer for you to see when a member starts receiving free accrual.  

We ask that you please continue to submit leave of absence information on time.

Retired members rejoining their employers

Retired members who rejoin the workforce at a HOOPP employer have two options.

  1. They can continue to receive their pension along with their employment income and not re-enrol in HOOPP; or 

  2. they can temporarily suspend their monthly pension payments and re-enrol in HOOPP.

In general, if a retired employee is returning to work for a few months, this will likely result in only a modest change to their pension. As such, they may prefer to continue to receive their HOOPP pension without re-enrolling in HOOPP.

However, if the employee is returning to work for a more extended period of time, it may be beneficial for them to suspend their pension and re-enrol in the Plan. In that case, we encourage employees to contact HOOPP directly and we will provide them with an estimate and assist them in making a more informed decision.

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