Employer Monthly - June Issue
There are many upcoming activities to focus on now that your annual reconciliation process is closing. In this issue, you’ll see how to prepare for the attestation process, and find details on paid infectious disease emergency leaves, retroactive payments and the importance of election dates for leave periods.
You can also provide feedback through the Employer Satisfaction Survey, learn about how we’re updating Form 152, see what’s next for e-access and find dates for upcoming webinars.
Thank you for completing another annual reconciliation!
We know how much hard work goes into the process and appreciate your commitment. A member’s annual pension report is an important touchpoint, and your dedication ensures they are getting accurate and timely information.
Coming soon: Annual attestation process
OMERS will be reaching out via email to the senior management official (SMO) of your organization for the annual attestation process. This process ensures that participating organizations properly administer the OMERS Pension Plans and helps OMERS identify where we can further develop our employer training, tools and materials.
Is the name of your SMO up to date?
If this information needs to be changed, submit an Employer contact information/e-access user (Form 109) as soon as possible. We will update our records and send the documents to the new SMO. If you are updating the SMO identified in Section 3 of Form 109, the form must be signed by a different person at the same position level or higher.
Information on paid infectious disease emergency leaves
On April 29, the Ontario government amended the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) to provide up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave (Paid IDEL) to qualified employees who are absent from work due to a COVID-19 related illness, quarantine, vaccination or caregiving responsibility. The Paid IDEL became effective April 19, 2021, and will end on September 25, 2021, unless it is extended.
To qualify for a Paid IDEL, employees must meet the ESA eligibility requirements and generally cannot have an existing contractual entitlement to paid sick leave. If eligible for a Paid IDEL, employees are entitled to be paid by their employer at their regular pay rate, subject to a $200 daily maximum. Like other statutory leaves, the ESA also requires that employers make pension contributions in respect of a Paid IDEL unless the employee elects not to make the necessary contributions.
You can find answers to some Frequently Asked Questions on our website.
The importance of election dates
It’s very important to use the correct election date when reporting a leave period election because the date determines how the leave is treated. Income tax rules require that employers and OMERS refer to a member’s election date to determine how to report the absence and if, upon purchase, a member’s deemed earnings from their leave period can be considered when calculating their “best five” earnings for their OMERS pension. For more information, please see Reporting a PA for a leave period in the Employer Administration Manual.
Are you using the new e-access system?
We’ve spent the past year building out the new e-access system, and with each new feature and form that becomes available, we’re one step closer to retiring the legacy system. It’s essential to use the available training resources to become familiar with the new system because we will be decommissioning the legacy system in the fall and this will be the only e-access system available for employers. Visit the e-access Information Portal to find training resources.
We plan to introduce the Contribution remittance summary (e-Form 105) in late July. If you haven’t had the opportunity to use the new system, the e-Form 105 will be a good place to start. Sign up for a webinar to learn more:
Tuesday, July 20 – 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Wednesday, July 21 – 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Thursday, July 22 – 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Updates to Form 152
In June, OMERS will be updating the Notice of rehabilitative work program (Form 152). The updated form is being rolled out to guide you in both the timely and accurate reporting of rehabilitative programs to OMERS. You will be required to provide specific details related to the rehabilitative program, including a next scheduled review date and/or an expected return to work date. This information will help OMERS determine if your member is eligible to continue receiving the OMERS disability waiver benefit (accrual of service and deemed earnings under the Plan terms) while returning to work as part of the employer’s rehabilitative work program. You will also be required to certify the member’s progress while on the rehabilitative program at pre-set follow-up dates to ensure the continuation of the disability waiver benefit. It is important that you respond to OMERS requests for information, in order to maintain the member’s disability waiver benefit.
We will also update the Employer Administration Manual, providing enhanced guidelines, specific to the administration of rehabilitative programs.
Reporting retroactive payments
Employers have asked us to clarify how retroactive payments apply to the OMERS pension.
Retroactive payments apply to year(s) prior to the year in which they’re paid. Employers must deduct contributions on all retroactive and pay adjustments (including pay equity adjustments) related to regular wages for all active, terminated, retired and disabled members (for the period before the start of a waiver), and for members who have passed away.
Learn from our Education & Training team
Sign up for our general administration webinars to get a deeper understanding of a particular topic and answers to your questions.
Upcoming webinars (10 a.m. to 11 a.m.):
Enrolment, Part 2: Enrolling a Member (e-Form 102) – Thursday, July 8
Contributions, Remittances and the e-Form 105 – Wednesday, August 4
Leave Period Administration (e-Form 165) – Thursday, August 26
Discover more topics and dates on our Administration Webinars page.
Take the Employer Satisfaction Survey
Your feedback matters, and hearing it is vital to improving our services. Tell us about a recent interaction you've had with OMERS or share suggestions on working better together.
We’re here to help. Contact Employer Services:
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: +1 416.350.6750
Toll-free: +1 833.884.0389
Email: employerservices@omers.com
Thank you for helping us administer the Plan and deliver a wonderful experience to our members.