Employer Monthly - March Issue
For many of us, March marks one year of working remotely. Much has changed over the past year and like you, we have had to adapt by finding new ways to connect with our colleagues and the employers we serve. For example, our Education & Training and Employer Services teams have been meeting with members and employers virtually. In this issue, you’ll read about an OMERS employer’s experience of working through the pandemic.
You’ll also find information on what to expect next from the new e-access system, a registration link for the OMERS Annual Meeting, a reminder about completing your annual reconciliation, dates for upcoming webinars and a link to the Employer Satisfaction Survey.
New e-access feature: Leave period election
The Leave period election (e-Form 165b) is now available in the new e-access system. The release of this feature continues our transition to a new and improved e-access. Visit the e-access Information Portal to find training resources.
As we continue to build a better system, you can look forward to another new feature to be introduced in early May: retirements and terminations (Request for an OMERS Plan benefit – e-Form 143). Sign up for a webinar to learn more:
Monday, April 19 – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Wednesday, April 21 – 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, April 28 – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Helpful hint: Easily track documents
Using the attachment feature in the new e-access system allows you to track the status of the documents you submit. In cases where the document cannot be opened or more information is required, OMERS will send it back and you’ll be updated about the process.
Reminder: OMERS Annual Meeting
OMERS members, employers and stakeholders are all important to our community, so we want to keep you informed. Registration is now open for our Annual Meeting, which will be hosted via webcast on April 6 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Spotlight: Hearing from an OMERS employer
Working through one year of a pandemic has looked different for everyone. Sheri from the City of Windsor shared her experience with us, including some of the silver linings she’s found during this challenging year.
At the City of Windsor, we like to provide our employees one-on-one, in-person meetings. Some employees are in the preparation stage for retirement and some are ready to sign their paperwork. In both cases, these meetings allow employees the opportunity to ask questions, reflect on their career and gain peace of mind. Even though most of our core duties did not change when the pandemic began, the way we perform, interact and complete processes were undeniably impacted.
I believe now more than ever that working from home has allowed us to re-evaluate our processes and has shown us that we can enjoy some of the accommodations such as online or virtual training and flexibility in our schedules. Creativity, problem solving, streamlining workflows and forward-thinking are also some of the positives that we unquestionably acquired during the pandemic. It is remarkable and encouraging to see how quickly the whole world came together and adapted.
For me, the pandemic reminded me to take nothing in life for granted (personally or professionally).
Completing the annual reconciliation
As a reminder, our deadline to provide members with their annual member statement is June 30, 2021. This deadline is based on a requirement in the Pension Benefits Act to provide members’ statements by this date. In order to meet this deadline, we require employers to complete the e-Form 119 by June 1. To support the process, tip sheets and e-Learning modules covering everything from preparing to reconciling your e-Form 119s are available at omers.com. We are also here to help, contact Employer Services.
Learn more about administering the Plan
There are several other processes you’ll need to complete while working through the annual reconciliation. To learn more, sign up for our general administration webinars that share the latest tips for administering the OMERS Plan.
Upcoming webinars (10 a.m. – 11 a.m.):
Enrolment, Part 2: Enrolling a Member (e-Form 102) – Thursday, April 1
Contributions, Remittances and the e-Form 105 – Thursday, April 8
Leave Period Administration (e-Form 165) – Thursday, April 15
Click below to register or discover more topics and dates.
Take the Employer Satisfaction Survey
We reached out to ask for your feedback – and you still have time to respond! Tell us about a recent interaction you’ve had with OMERS or share suggestions on how we can better work together. Hearing your feedback on a regular basis is vital to improving our services.
Fill out the survey today by clicking the link below – it will only take a few minutes. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
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.