Reminder: Staff Pension Plan Fair, June 21, 2018
This year’s UBC Staff Pension Fair takes place on Thursday, June 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The fair will be held at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre. This is a drop-in event; no RSVP is required.
The Pension Fair is a great opportunity for members to learn more about their pension plan and increase their pension knowledge. We are also pleased to have the following groups in attendance:
- UBC Retirement and Survivor Benefits
- UBC Employee and Family Assistance Program
- UBC Investment Management Trust (IMANT) Inc.
- CARP (Canadian Association for Retired Persons)
Visit the SPP Pension Fair event page for more details.
Staff Pension Plan – May Newsletter and Annual Statements
Please share this with your staff.
The May 2018 issue of the Staff Pension Plan Update newsletter was sent out this week. Members will have either received an electronic copy, or they will soon receive a paper copy of the newsletter along with their annual statement.
In this issue of the SPP Update:
- You’re invited to the Staff Pension Plan Fair: June 21
- Annual Statements
- 2017 Annual Report
- How is your pension calculated?
- New myPension Features
- Fall Election
- Pension Board Updates
- New Pension Board Member: Joanna Carson
- Annual Governance Update
- 2017 Cost of Living Adjustment
View the May SPP Update newsletter.
Call for UBC-V QPR Instructors: Application Deadline – June 13, 2018
The Suicide Awareness Working Group is recruiting staff and faculty members who are interested in becoming QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) instructors at the Vancouver campus. This is a volunteer role and full training is provided.
As a QPR instructor, you will:
- Provide training
- Promote QPR within your department
- Receive ongoing support from the QPR instructor community of practice and QPR Institute
- Have the opportunity to contribute to UBC Vancouver’s suicide awareness strategy
If you are interested in becoming a QPR instructor, please read this Info Sheet and complete a brief online application by Wednesday, June 13, 2018. Training will take place on June 27 and 28, 2018.
If you know a staff or faculty member who may be interested, and you are supportive of their use of time toward this initiative, please encourage them to apply or share the Info Sheet with them.
Questions about the QPR instructor training program? Contact the Co-chairs of the Suicide Awareness Working Group: Tam Uden or Kelly Eaton.
Last Call to Register for “The Working Mind” Session on June 20
We have a few spots still available for “The Working Mind”, a new training session being previewed by Miranda Massie (Health Promotions).
This evidence-based workplace training program aims to increase mental health literacy for employees. Anyone in HR is welcome to register for this free session.
Visit the post from May 17 for more information about the training session.
HR Memo: Changes to Minimum Wage in British Columbia Effective June 1, 2018 (May 31)
On May 31, HR issued a memo regarding the Changes to Minimum Wage in British Columbia Effective June 1, 2018 (May 31).
Please contact your HR Advisor/Associate if you have questions.
HR Memo: M&P Compensation Review – Pay Grade and Salary Administration, Phase 3 Effective July 1, 2018
On May 25, HR issued a memo regarding the M&P Compensation Review – Pay Grade and Salary Administration, Phase 3 Effective July 1, 2018.
Please contact your HR Advisor/Associate if you have questions.
Attend the Staff Pension Plan Fair on June 21
The UBC Staff Pension Fair takes place on Thursday, June 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The fair will be held at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre. This is a drop-in event; no RSVP is required.
The Pension Fair is a great opportunity for members to learn more about their pension plan and increase their pension knowledge. We are also pleased to have the following groups in attendance:
- UBC Retirement and Survivor Benefits
- UBC Employee and Family Assistance Program
- UBC Investment Management Trust (IMANT) Inc.
- CARP (Canadian Association for Retired Persons)
Visit the SPP Pension Fair event website for more details.
UBC Staff Pension Plan: 2017 Annual Report
Please share with your staff.
The Staff Pension Plan 2017 Annual Report is available online.
The report includes a Message from the Chair and Executive Director, highlights for the Plan, membership and administration statistics, a review of the Plan’s funds and investment performance, FAQs, and information about how to access your pension information online. View the 2017 Annual Report.
New HR Training Opportunity: Preview “The Working Mind” Session on June 20
Miranda Massie (Health Promotions) is holding a preview of her new training session, “The Working Mind”, on June 20 and invites anyone in HR who is interested to attend. The session will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at TEF III (Room 610) and only 25 spaces are available. Please email her by May 31 to save your spot.
About the new training
The Working Mind is a Mental Health Commission of Canada, evidence-based workplace training program aimed at increasing mental health literacy for both supervisors/managers and employees. In advance of rolling out this program to the campus community, all HR staff are invited to preview the training to ensure that it aligns with current UBC policies and procedures.
The manager/supervisor version of the training includes information related to duty to enquire, accommodations, return to work, along with the other program elements.
Please note: Miranda will be presenting the manager/supervisor version on June 20, but all HR staff are welcome to attend. Read on for more info about the program, including details about the employee and manager/supervisor course content.
To register, please email Miranda Massie.
Program goals:
• To reduce stigma and negative attitudes towards those struggling with poor mental health
• To provide learners with a broad understanding of mental health and wellness
• Help participants maintain mental health and improve resilience
• To promote mental health and wellness in the workplace
• To provide managers with the confidence, tools and resources to manage and support employees who may be experiencing mental health problems or illness
Objectives
To give employees/managers the practical knowledge of mental health and mental illness so they can:
• Use the mental health continuum to recognize changes in their mental health and that of others
• Be prepared to use skills to improve their coping and resiliency
• Reduce both public and self-stigma
• Be willing to be a part of a supportive workplace
The employee version includes:
• A focus on dispelling the myths of mental health problems and mental illnesses, aiming to reduce associated stigma
• An overview of the Mental Health Continuum Model
• Self-assessment of one’s own mental health along the continuum
• Strategies one can apply at each point along the continuum
The managers’ version includes additional course content, such as:
• Workplace accommodations and return to work
• How to observe changes in employees along the continuum
• Appropriate actions to take
• How to communicate with employees about mental health illness in a workplace context
Questions? Ask Miranda Massie.
Faculty Pension Plan Forum: May 16, 2018 – Registration Still Open
On Wednesday, May 16, the UBC Faculty Pension Plan (FPP) will host its annual Pension Forum. Members of the Faculty Pension Plan can register for the in-person session at faculty.pensions.ubc.ca/pensionforum.
All members of the Faculty Pension Plan who cannot make the in-person event are encouraged to watch the webcast. The link for the webcast will be posted on the Pension Forum webpage before the event begins.
Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (doors open at 10 a.m.)
Location: Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre (Jack Poole Hall, second floor), Vancouver Campus [map]
Visit faculty.pensions.ubc.ca/pensionforum for details.
PD Opportunity: Selection Interviewing: May 11, 2018 – 4 Spaces Left
We have four spaces left in our May 11, 2018, session on Selection Interviewing: Ensuring Equity. Register ASAP to sharpen your interview and recruitment skills.
Note that this workshop is designed for UBC managers/administrators who have responsibility for the recruitment of staff.
About this workshop
The interview is a vital step in the hiring process, so you want it to be as effective as possible. This workshop will focus on the essential skills of behavioural interviewing so that you can more effectively get to know your candidates and find the best fit for your team.
Learning Outcomes
Through group exercises, discussions and role-play within this workshop, participants will:
- Develop questions and practice behavioural interviewing skills
- Develop tools to select the best candidate for the position
- Understand basic concepts of human rights, employment equity, and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation
Participants will also review current Human Rights and Employment Equity legislation and discuss the objectives of UBC’s policy on employment equity.
Facilitation Team and Presenters
- Lani McGill, Human Resources Advisor
- Kathryn Stagg, Human Resources Advisor
- Lindi Frost, Director of Employee Relations
- Jude Tate, Director of Equity and Inclusion
Course information
Selection Interviewing: Ensuring Equity
May 11, 2018, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $25.00
Room 610, TEF III, 6190 Agronomy Road [map]
Register online until May 7; afterwards contact pd.workshops@ubc.ca
If you are interested in this course, you may be able to use your professional development funding. Please visit the page for your employee group to learn more.
Hot Lunch: May 30, 2018 (feat. Karen (Kcee) Carriero, Associate Vice-President, Communications)
You are invited to attend Hot Lunch on May 30, to meet and network with your colleagues across UBC, and to hear from Karen (Kcee) Carriero, Associate Vice-President, Communications. Lunch this month will be a Tuscany buffet for $10.
Please purchase your tickets soon, as the events have been quite popular in recent months.
Hot Lunch is a cross-campus staff networking initiative hosted by St. John’s College and is supported by Human Resources.
Faculty Pension Plan Forum: May 16, 2018
On Wednesday, May 16, the UBC Faculty Pension Plan (FPP) will host its annual Pension Forum. This annual event is a great opportunity for members to hear the latest news about their pension plan and to meet the plan’s trustees, management and staff. There will be a presentation on the plan’s 2017 investment performance and a review of the 2017/18 initiatives. We will also offer a live webcast of the presentation for members who are unable to attend the event in person.
Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (doors open at 10 a.m.)
Location: Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre (Jack Poole Hall, second floor), Vancouver Campus [map]
Visit faculty.pensions.ubc.ca/pensionforum for event details and registration information. Registration is required for attendance in person but not for the webcast.
UBC Faculty Pension Plan 2017 Annual Report
The UBC Faculty Pension Plan’s annual report, 2017 Year in Review, is now available online. The report celebrates the plan’s 50th anniversary with plan highlights, membership and financial statistics, fund and investment managers’ rates of return, and a market commentary. The plan’s audited financial statements will be available by the end of April, 2018.
View the 2017 UBC FPP Annual Report
Benefits Info Session: Understanding Your Travel Benefits: April 30
Summer is just around the corner and many staff and faculty are preparing for vacation. Join UBC Benefits Specialist, Stephanie Mah, in a one-hour session, Understanding Your Travel Benefits on understanding your travel benefits and ensure that your vacation is as stress-free as possible.
This session will also include a Q & A period and we encourage you to come with questions.
Course Information
Date: April 30, 2018, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Michael Smith Laboratories, Room 102
Cost: Free
Register online
Maternity/Parental/Adoptive Leave EI Benefit Changes – Information for Administrators
In the February issue of Benefits FYI, we highlighted the federal government changes to EI benefits for maternity, parental and adoptive leaves that came into effect on Dec. 3, 2017. We also detailed how these benefits work with UBC’s SEB top-up and provided four scenarios to help illustrate the information.
Summary of Key Points
- In addition to the two parental EI benefits options (standard and extended), note that employees may be off for a longer period of time if they select the extended parental EI benefits.
- Any additional leave taken beyond what is stipulated in the BC Employment Standards Act will be considered general unpaid leave and the employee is responsible for the full cost of the benefits and pension they wish to continue.
- There are no changes to how top-up is calculated for maternity leave for birth mothers.
- With the exception of BCGEU Okanagan, birth parents with staff appointments (mothers and fathers) are not eligible for top-up during parental leave. As such, during the parental leave they will receive standard or extended parental EI benefits only.
- BCGEU Okanagan birth parents (mothers and fathers) are eligible for top-up during parental leave; however, the top-up calculation is under development with the introduction of the extended EI parental benefit. More information will be available soon.
- Birth parents with faculty appointments (mothers and fathers) are eligible for top-up during parental leave, and if the extended EI parental benefits is chosen, the top-up will be calculated based on the standard option. This includes Academic Executives and Postdoctoral Fellows (employees).
For HR Administrators
If you have staff who will be taking maternity, parental or adoptive leave, we encourage you to consider how you will fill your department’s staffing requirements during the employee’s leave. If you have any questions on how to fill leave replacement positions over the new extended parental leave periods, please contact your HR Advisor.
When using ePAF (for a staff leave) or paper form (for a faculty leave) to notify Payroll of a leave, make sure you correctly code the leave for Payroll purposes. For example, if you have an employee who fits key point #2 above, please code the additional leave beyond 52 weeks for birth mothers, and 37 weeks for birth fathers and adopting parents as general unpaid (personal) leave.
More information
Family Caregiver EI Benefits – Information for Administrators
In the February issue of Benefits FYI, we detailed the federal government’s new EI family caregiver benefits, which help families care for a critically ill/injured family member or person that considers you a family member. The new benefits were introduced on Dec. 3, 2017, and are offered in addition to EI compassionate care benefits.
Summary of Key Points
- The EI family caregiver benefit for children and adults are offered in addition to compassionate care EI benefits. An employee may apply for family caregiver benefits to care for a critically ill/injured family member or person who considers them a family member, whereas compassionate care benefits apply if the employee is caring for a terminally ill family member or person who considers them a family member (must be significant risk of death within 26 weeks).
- If the family member in question is an adult, EI benefits will cover up to 15 weeks.
- If the family member in question is a child, EI benefits will cover up to 35 weeks.
- The BC Employment Standards Act currently provides eight weeks of job-protected leave for compassionate care, but does not include family caregiver leave. If an employee applies for family caregiving EI benefits, they will need to apply for a general unpaid leave and they will be responsible for paying the full cost of the benefits and pension they choose to maintain.
For HR Administrators
If you have an employee where the above scenarios or situations apply, please ensure that you correctly code the leave for Payroll purposes.
For example, if you have an employee applying for family caregiving EI benefits, please use the code Leave of Absence, Family Caregiver Leave (LOA/FAM) if you are using ePAF (for a staff leave) or paper form (for a faculty leave). A new code was created to ensure a Record of Employment would be generated and sent to Service Canada.
If the employee is applying for a compassionate care leave, please continue to use Leave of Absence, Compassionate Leave (LOA/COM) for the first eight weeks of leave and general unpaid (personal) leave for any additional leave.
If you have any questions or concerns about backfilling staff positions, please speak with your HR Associate or Advisor.
More Information
- Benefits FYI Article: Help for Family Caregivers (February 2018)
- Vacations & Leaves
New Orientations & Onboarding Site Launched
We have launched our new Orientation site for staff and faculty. This new site focuses on helping new employees navigate through the essentials of starting, their first week, their first month and looking forward to success. We also have a new look and feel that we hope will enliven the onboarding experience.
Check out the new site at https://www.hr.ubc.ca/orientation/.
This new site dovetails in with our revitalized in-person orientation program at the Vancouver campus. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact workplace.orientations@ubc.ca.
Reminder: Preparing for Extreme/Winter Weather at UBC
As a reminder, earlier this season a bulletin was issued on how the UBC community can prepare for extreme/winter weather. As per Policy 68, if UBC is subject to extreme winter weather conditions, the university may decide to cancel classes or exams and curtail non-essential services.
UBC.ca is the definitive source for campus updates. We also have additional information on how to prepare at our Winter Weather Conditions & Protocol page.
Preparing faculty and staff in your department/unit for extreme weather:
- Determine if you have “essential” positions within your department/unit that would be required to attend at the campus during extreme weather, and ensure that the staff in those roles are aware of their responsibilities. For questions, or help in determining essential service levels, contact your HR Advisor.
- Review your department/unit’s snow procedures, make any necessary updates, and share with all faculty and staff in your department/unit.
- Ensure that those in your department/unit know what to do if extreme weather prevents them from getting to campus, and campus remains fully operational. For questions regarding policy in this scenario, contact your HR Advisor.
Read the rest of the bulletin at http://faculty-staff.ubc.ca/2017/11/23/preparing-for-extreme-weather-at-ubc/.
Recruiting for Key Roles to Support the Integrated Renewal Program
Human Resources is currently recruiting for several key roles that are part of the Integrated Renewal Program, a multi-year journey to transform our academic and administrative support processes and systems environments. The Integrated Renewal Program unites previously independent renewal programs, formerly known as Student Academic Systems Initiative (SASI), Procurement Modernization, and HR Finance Renewal Program.
Review the roles if you are interested, and please share with your networks as appropriate.
- Director of Transformation, Human Resources: https://www.hr.ubc.ca/jobs/staff.php?job_id=29008 (closes March 5)
- Director, Organizational Change Management, IRP: https://www.hr.ubc.ca/jobs/staff.php?job_id=29009 (closes March 5)
- Business Lead, Human Resource Foundations, IRP: https://www.hr.ubc.ca/jobs/staff.php?job_id=29058 (closes March 7)
- Business Lead, Workforce Management, IRP: https://www.hr.ubc.ca/jobs/staff.php?job_id=29059 (closes March 7)
- Business Lead, Recruitment, IRP: https://www.hr.ubc.ca/jobs/staff.php?job_id=29060 (closes March 7)
If you would like to learn more about these opportunities, please contact HR Communications at communications@hr.ubc.ca.