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For Plan Rules, please visit the Admin Manual: Link

Employer Leave Reporting Process 

Info
Info

This benefit applies to Members on COVID-related unpaid emergency leaves during the declared emergency - one of the two new statutory leaves added to the Employment Standards Act (ESA) by the Provincial government in response to COVID19: declared emergency leave, or an infectious disease leaves. The benefit also applies to the first 15 weeks of an unpaid health leaves (health leaves due to any reason not specific to COVID) Members who are placed on an unpaid COVID 19 related emergency leave or unpaid health leave (for the first 15 weeks) will continue to build their pension as though they were still working, without having to make contributions. Employer contributions are also waived.

If eligible, contributory service will be granted for the portion of the qualifying leave that:

  • falls within the period of the emergency starting on March 17, 2020 to July 24, 2020; January 12, 2021 to February 9, 2021 or April 7, 2021 to June 2, 2021(as declared by the Province of Ontario under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act due to COVID-19); and  

  • during which the member has no pensionable earnings from the employer.  

We anticipate that most members will continue to be paid during this time. For those who are not paid and you have placed on one of the eligible leave types, HOOPP benefits will continue to grow at no cost to the member and employer. 

For additional information about Leaves, please visit the Leaves of Absence Section of the Learning Centre.

Duration of continued contributory service

For unpaid emergency leaves, the contributory service will be granted for the period of the leave that falls between:

  • the later of March 17, or the leave start date; and

    • the earlier of the date the member returns from the unpaid leave (or reaches the end of the 15 weeks in the case of a health leave) or the end date of the provincial state of emergency (currently unknown). 

    Any member on an unpaid COVID-19 related emergency leave, or within the first 15 weeks of an unpaid health leave, will receive contributory service at no cost to the member or employer for the eligible period occurring between March 17 to July 24, 2020, January 12 to February 9, 2021 or April 7, 2021 to June 2, 2021.

    If the leave of absence continues beyond the end date of the provincial state of emergency, then only the portion of service up to this date will be granted at no cost. If the leave of absence started prior of the provincial state of emergency, then only the portion of service during the state of emergency will be granted at no cost.  After this date

    For period of these leaves that fall prior to or after the declared state of emergency the member (and employer) may contribute for the continuing emergency leave period or remaining first 15 weeks of an unpaid health leave (subject to employer approval where required by the Plan). 

    Note: Members on a health leave will be able continue to have the ability to apply for free accrual after the first 15 weeks, per normal disability benefit processes.  Additionally, the period of an emergency leave that becomes a health leave will count toward the 15-week qualifying period for purposes of applying for disability benefits.

    Eligible Leave TypesEligibility ExclusionsPeriods

    Ineligible Periods

    This benefit applies to members on COVID-related unpaid emergency leaves during the current declared emergency.

    This includes one of the two new statutory leaves added to the Employment Standards Act (ESA) by the provincial government in response to COVID-19:

    • Declared emergency leave

    • Infectious disease leave

    The benefit also applies to the first 15 weeks of an unpaid health leave.

    This benefit is not provided in the following situations:

    Paid leaves of absence

    As the employer you define the period of absence an employee is granted and then report accordingly to HOOPP. If you have determined they do not fall under one of the eligible periods defined in this section they would not be eligible to receive the continued benefits.

    • paid leaves of absence (including members on a paid emergency leave who elect not to contribute, as permitted under the ESA) 

    • Other unpaid leaves other unpaid leaves (statutory or otherwise) other  other than those described above

    • Periods periods of reduced earningsearnings 

    • Periods periods of temporary layofflayoff 

    Reminder:

     Employers should

     please continue to report temporary layoffs as ‘approved non-statutory

    leaves’.

    leaves’  

    When service will be applied

    HOOPP is targeting late 2020 (for the 2020 time period) to grant the contributory service to qualifying eligible members with contributory service. 

    From the HOOPP Insight Member Profile, employers will continue to see these periods as originally reported to HOOPP (e.g., non-contributory emergency leaves).  Service granted will not be visible to employers. Until service is granted (late 2020) this service will not be included in member estimates.

    Members will see the contributory service on their 2020 annual statement that will be issued to members in 2021. It will appear as buyback service.

    Note regarding the 2021 eligible period: Timing for the application of this service will be confirmed.

    Contributions that were already taken for eligible members

    Any contributions that were already taken for eligible members from employees deemed to be qualified for this type of leave, should be refunded to the member. If the contributions were already remitted to HOOPP, the employer should adjust their next HOOPP remittance based on these amounts.  For additional information on Remitting Contributions visit the Remittance Page.

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