Employer Monthly - September Issue
We’re gearing up for a fantastic fall season at OMERS, and with the changing season and crisper fall weather comes an opportunity for us to evolve our service offerings and improve the tools we use to partner with you. This season includes the launch of our new e-access system and the OMERS Learning Experience, and we are really excited to share these new tools with you.
Everyone on our team is so grateful for your collaboration in the development of a new e-access system that will improve your OMERS administration experience — thank you. We’re hosting a series of workshops this fall, so you can learn how to navigate OMERS Learning Experience (which we’ve affectionately nicknamed OLE, as in “bravo!” but without the accent aigu) before it launches on October 23, 2021. Workshop dates are set out in this newsletter along with details about Employer Education Week, how we’re planning for the non-full-time (NFT) expansion and information on the easiest way for members to request pension estimates.
Jackie DeSouza
Vice President, Employer & Stakeholder Relations
New e-access is complete!
We are thrilled to report that the new system is complete! All e-Forms are available and now that e-access is fully built, we will remove legacy system functionality effective October 23, 2021.
To ensure a smooth transition, it’s important that you are comfortable using the new system before that date. You can find training, tip sheets and more by visiting the e-access Information Portal.
OMERS Learning Experience
Beginning October 23, you’ll be able to access OMERS Learning Experience (OLE) as part of the new e-access system using single sign-on. All your training materials, including webinars, tip sheets, calculators and more, will be conveniently housed in one spot through e-access. Sign up for a workshop to get familiar with the new e-access system and its features, including OLE.
Monday, October 4 – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday, October 7 – 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Tuesday, October 12 – 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
To see our complete schedule of workshops, visit the e-access Information Portal.
Pension estimates through myOMERS
The easiest way for members to request a pension estimate is through myOMERS. Retirement Planner allows members to estimate the amount of retirement income they can expect to receive from their OMERS defined benefit pension. It produces the same estimate a member would receive by contacting OMERS to request one, is accessible 24/7 and takes only a few minutes. If you receive questions about pension estimates, direct employees to request an estimate by following the steps below:
Simply sign in to myOMERS, go to the left-hand menu and click My Calculators.
In the Retirement Planner section, click Start Now.
Follow the steps to complete the request. A summary will be available within minutes.
A copy of the estimate will also be saved to the member’s account under My Reports to review at any time.
If a member does not have a myOMERS account, creating one is easy. All they need is their OMERS 7-digit reference number, the last three digits of their social insurance number and their date of birth.
Planning for non-full-time expansion
With the non-full-time (NFT) expansion coming into effect January 1, 2023, ensuring a smooth transition for members and employers is a top priority. We look forward to welcoming more members into the OMERS Plan and are here to support employers through the upcoming changes. Soon, OMERS will reach out to non-full-time employees for their feedback on the Plan change and upcoming option to enrol. Understanding their perspectives will help us implement the NFT expansion effectively, providing all non-full-time employees with the opportunity to invest in a secure retirement. Please contact employerservices@omers.com if you have questions or would like to get involved.
Join us for Employer Education Week
Registration is open for our second annual Employer Education Week, which begins October 25!
This week-long virtual conference offers a wide range of topics and activities, giving you the flexibility to register for sessions that align with your interests and schedule. It also provides an opportunity to network and share best practices with fellow OMERS employer representatives from across the province. To see the full itinerary and registration options, visit the Employer Education Week page. Here’s a snapshot of what you can look forward to:
OMERS Pension Landscape with Celine Chiovitti
Monday, October 25 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Celine Chiovitti, OMERS Senior Vice President of Pension & Corporate Services, will open the event, providing an update on OMERS members and stakeholders, while highlighting the headwinds facing the Plan, lessons learned through the pandemic and how we are innovating and evolving to meet the needs of current and future members.
Register now
Preparing for your e-Form 119
Thursday, October 28 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
The next annual reporting year is just around the corner. This may be your first year completing the process using the new e-access portal, and we are here to help! This session will ensure you are ahead of the curve and prepared to complete your e-Form 119.
Register now
Keynote Speaker: Michael Turner (President of Oxford Properties)
Thursday, October 28 | 1 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Michael Turner, President of Oxford Properties, will share an overview of Oxford’s past, present and future. Together with its portfolio companies, Oxford manages $70 billion of high-quality real estate assets across four continents. It invests thematically, and with conviction, to buy, build and grow world class real estate businesses across the globe.
Fireside Chat with Dr. James Aw
Friday, October 29 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
As we continue to navigate through this pandemic there are new questions popping up every day. Sit down with OMERS Chief Medical Officer, Dr. James Aw, to get answers to a new series of frequently asked questions.
Spotlight: Hearing from an OMERS employer
During Employer Education Week, OMERS is hosting a panel discussion with employers from across the province sharing their expertise and tips. Joining the panel will be Henry from the City of Brampton. We asked Henry to tell us his OMERS story as a sneak peek of what to expect during the panel discussion.
In his role at work, Henry’s day is filled with variety, and no two days look the same. From running reports to processing leaves of absence, disability elimination periods, enrolments, terminations and retirements, he’s familiar with all aspects of OMERS administration, and he’s always there to help employees with their pension experience.
Henry understands the value of the OMERS Plan and does his best to help employees do the same. “From my experience, employees underestimate the true value of the pension that OMERS provides. Employees, quite frequently, are not aware of how the survivor benefits work or don’t understand their termination options,” explains Henry. “Whenever I am having a conversation with employees, I always ask about their previous employment and whether they have previous memberships in other pension plans. Quite often, employees do have previous pension plans, and they are not aware of the possibility of transferring their benefits to OMERS.”
By participating in the panel discussion, Henry hopes to share his knowledge and serve as a reminder that there’s a lot connecting us. “We tend to do things our way, but sometimes borrowing other employers’ ideas can be beneficial, and being able to see other employers’ ‘struggles’ reminds us that we are not the only ones facing certain issues.”
To hear more from Henry and other OMERS employers, join us for the Employer Panel during Employer Education Week!
Learn from our Education & Training team
Sign up for our general administration webinars to learn more about important topics and get answers to your questions.
Member Events (e-Form 143)
Wednesday, October 13 - 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Enrolment, Part 1: Theory
Monday, November 1 – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Offering Voluntary Enrolment – Pension Benefits Act (PBA) Rules
Tuesday, November 2 – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
See our complete schedule on a full range of topics 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.