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The University of British Columbia
- a place of mind
- The University of British Columbia
- UBC Human Resources
The University and the Faculty Association have ratified an agreement placing a moratorium on mandatory retirement at UBC. We know that you will have a number of questions about what this will mean for you. We hope that the following Questions and Answers, prepared jointly by the Faculty Association and the University, will help you understand the implications of the parties’ Agreement.
General Questions
Retirement Options
Reduced Appointments
Sessional Lecturers
Benefits
Pension
Members Receiving Disability or IRP Benefits
Retirement Counselling
There was a temporary moratorium on mandatory retirement at UBC effective May 15, 2007. The moratorium was in place until January 1, 2008 when the new legislation came into effect by the Provincial Government.
The Provincial Government has passed legislation changing the definition of “age” to 19 years or more (the current definition of age is “19 years or more and less than 65 years”) effective January 1, 2008.
The Agreement came into effective May 15, 2007.
Yes, although depending on the rank of the member certain provisions may or may not apply.
You have a number of options. You may:
See below for more information on these three options, including the notice requirements. Note that if your Normal Retirement Date is in 2007, there are specific notice requirements of which you need to be aware.
Regardless of which option you chose, it would be helpful if you would discuss your plans with your head of academic unit. If you are planning on retiring or selecting a Retirement Option you must provide notice (see below for the details).
Benefit coverage: Your benefits will continue until age 69 (proposed to change to 71) or until you voluntarily collect your pension, with the following exceptions: basic group life insurance coverage will be reduced at your Normal Retirement Date; and the income replacement program and spousal optional life insurance are not available after your Normal Retirement Date.
Pensions: You have two options:
Financial counselling (up to 3 hours) and retirement workshops are offered to help you plan for retirement.
The Normal Retirement Date at UBC continues to be the June 30th or December 31st date following your 65th birthday. In approaching your 65th birthday you have the following options. You may:
In approaching your 65th birthday, you may choose to continue working on either a full- or part-time basis (subject to reappointment) or you may choose to retire. A member in a term position such as a Sessional Lecturer or a part-time appointment will continue to have a Normal Retirement Date at the end of their appointment in which they reached their 65th birthday.
The terms of the Agreement apply to Joint Appointments. To avoid unnecessary confusion or misunderstanding, it is extremely important that, in the case of Joint Appointments, the Home Department should consult and work with the other department(s) to ensure a smooth transition. Members should discuss retirement matters with the Heads of both the Home and Non-Home Department(s).
While you may continue to work past age 65, there will be changes to benefit coverage after age 65. It also provides an opportunity for a discussion on your long term plans at the University. Other universities, such as the University of Toronto, have also retained the concept of a normal retirement date, even though there is no obligation to retire at age 65.
The agreement provides that notice of intention to retire be given well in advance which will normally be one year (but 18 months is preferred) in advance of your proposed retirement date. In the case of the retirement options, one year in advance of the date you intend to take an option. In all cases, the notice period may be waived by agreement between the individual and the head of academic unit.
The agreement provides that notice of intention to retire be given well in advance which will normally be one year (but 18 months is preferred) to enable departments to engage in academic planning. If you wish to retire without giving one year’s notice, the options provided by the agreement may not be available.
Notify your head of academic unit in writing.
No, you can retire early at any time as long as you give advance notice of your intentions to retire.
Other online resources:
E-mail Faculty Relations at fr@exchange.ubc.ca and we will get back to you with either a response to your question or will re-direct you to the most appropriate person to help with your issue.
Yes, if your Head agrees to waive the notice period required.
While it is possible to arrange a variety of scenarios over the three years, the 0% in the last year would not fit under the provisions of a phased-in retirement option.
No, members who choose to work beyond normal retirement date are required to continue the full scope of their normal duties which will include teaching. The only alternative is for the member, if eligible, to request a reduced appointment retirement option that would allow for reduced scope, subject to approval by the head of academic unit.
Yes. Note however that the following exceptions will apply if you enter into a Retirement Option:
The Retirement Options are available to faculty members, program directors in Continuing Studies and librarians who are 60 years of age and have at least 10 years of full-time continuous service.
Full-time service is an active appointment in an eligible rank in the faculty bargaining unit. This includes paid leaves including sabbaticals, maternity, parental and short term sick leaves and time spent in a reduced appointment under the Agreement on Reduced Appointments. Unpaid personal or disability leaves or secondments do not count as full-time service.
Your salary during any the retirement appointment options will be pro-rated on the basis of percentage appointment in each year.
You must give notice in writing one year prior to entering the retirement appointment option. However, there is a transition for retirement options for those who have a normal retirement date in 2007, which permits you to give notice of intention to participate in a retirement appointment option by June 30, 2007 for those with a normal retirement date of June 30, 2007 and August 31, 2007 for those with a normal retirement date of December 31, 2007.
You will continue to be eligible for career progress, merit and PSA and any across the board increases as negotiated with the Faculty Association each year during your retirement appointment option.
The University will honour the agreement with you to allow you to continue in the Reduced-Scope Appointment as originally planned.
Yes, it is possible to shorten the appointment period.
No, the Agreement requires that you have 10 years of continuous full-time service. However, you may wish to consider a Reduced Appointment under the Agreement on Reduced Appointments (see below).
A Reduced Appointment is a part-time appointment for Faculty Association members with tenure or grant tenure. Such appointments can be reduced to 50 – 99% short term or until retirement. The Agreement on Reduced Appointments (see pages 148 -152 of the 2006/2010 Collective Agreement or online) sets out the terms for these appointments.
You will need to speak with your Head about the terms of your reduced appointment given that the anticipated end-date is no longer in place. Alternatively, you may wish to elect a Retirement Option.
If you are a tenured member of the Faculty Association, you can request a reduced appointment to a minimum of 50% under the Agreement on Reduced Appointments.
Yes. The Agreement placing a moratorium on mandatory retirement applies to Sessional Lecturers, as well as other faculty appointments.
No. Retirement Options are available only to tenured or confirmed faculty, librarians, and program directors and full-time 12-month lecturers. However, a Sessional can opt to accept fewer course assignments at any time.
Yes. Those Sessional Lecturers turning 65 in 2007 who were actively employed on April 30, 2007 may continue to work past their Normal Retirement Date.
The following benefits plans will continue with no changes:
Your Basic Group Life insurance coverage will reduce by 50% to 1x your annual salary.
These benefits end when you begin to collect your pension on a voluntary basis or as required by law (age 71).
The following benefits plans end on your normal retirement date:
Your tuition waiver benefits continue, with no change, regardless of whether you collect your pension and continue to work.
Yes, you may apply for this program and it is at your own cost. Please see the RSB website for more details
Your benefits will be based on the terms in the Reduced Appointment agreement. Income replacement plan, basic Group life insurance, and sick leave benefits will be based on actual salary until your Normal Retirement Date. There are no reductions in Medical Services Plan, Extended Health, Dental, EFAP, and Tuition. Pension will be based on actual salary unless you are 55 years old and have a minimum of 15 years of services. Please see a href=”http://www.hr.ubc.ca/faculty-relations/collective-agreements/appointment-reduce/#9″>Reduced Appointments for more information.
However, if you continue to work beyond your normal retirement date, any changes to those benefits will occur as stipulated above.
You may apply to receive your CPP benefits after age 65, or between 60 and 64 if you meet the requirements. There are benefits to delaying receipt of benefits until age 70. Information about the plan and how to apply is available on the Services Canada website.
You cannot contribute to CPP and receive benefits at the same time. To stop CPP deductions from your paycheque, you should bring a copy of your CPP stub or other confirmation that you are in receipt of benefits to Payroll. Payroll cannot stop deductions without this confirmation.
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you should apply for your Old Age Security Plan benefits six months before you turn 65. The Service Canada website has more details.
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You have two options:
You can continue to work but all contributions and current group benefit plan coverage will cease. Alternatively, you can access Retirement and Survivor Benefits.
The Pension Administration Office offers individual information sessions on pension-related matters. To make an appointment, please call 604-822-8100. Further information on retirement as well as links to other retirement related sites can be found on the Plan’s website. You can also use the pension calculator to estimate future account balances(s) and monthly annuity you may receive upon retirement from the UBC Faculty Pension Plan (FPP)
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Under the terms of the Agreement, members are not entitled to IRP coverage after their Normal Retirement Date. This means that your IRP coverage will terminate on your Normal Retirement Date. If you are on IRP, and are approaching your Normal Retirement Date, Human Resources will be contacting you to advise you of your options.
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Yes. The University provides the following processes to support retirement:
Yes, the Faculty Association in conjunction with UBC Continuing Studies also offers a financial planning lecture series every spring. Contact the Faculty Association for information.
