Taking time off work
If you need to take time away from work because of family, health or other circumstances, we’re here to help you understand what that means for building your pension.
What's on this page
- Short-term disability options
- Long-term disability options
Type of leaves
There are a number of different leaves of absence that may occur over the course of your career. Here are some of them:
- Unpaid absence due to illness or disability
- Leaves for educational or special purposes, including personal unpaid leaves
- Leaves of absence under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), including pregnancy/parental or caregiver leave
- Unpaid absence due to layoff or strike
- Participation in a prepaid leave program
Info: Building your pension
Learn about your pensionable service and purchasing pensionable service in Pension 101 > Building your pension.Disability leaves
Short-term disability
If you’re away from work and receiving short-term disability benefits, contributions to the Plan will be automatically deducted from your pensionable earnings. This means that you will continue to earn pensionable service.
If you’re a WSIB employee, from the 41st continuous working day of your absence, the WSIB makes both its own share of contributions plus your share of contributions for the duration of the short-term disability period. This prevents any breaks in your pensionable service.
For employees from Safe Workplace Associations (SWA) and WISE Trust, contact your HR Department regarding short-term disability absences.
Long-term disability
If you’re receiving long-term disability benefits, your employer makes contributions to the Plan on your behalf. You continue to build up pensionable service even though you’re not actively at work—until you retire, reach age 65 or pass away, whichever occurs first. This only applies if your employer maintains a long-term disability plan. Contact your HR department for further information regarding long-term disability absences.