RADAR, Issue 09, March 2021

Back to list of publications

RADAR, Issue 09, March 2021

Announcing the new Manager’s Toolbox

Find the new Manager’s Toolbox on the Pay Support LaunchPad with all the tools you need to manage challenging pay tasks! The Manager’s Toolbox is complimentary to the S34 Manager Reference Guide.

Where the S34 Manager Reference Guide gives complete instructions on all of your Phoenix Manager Self-Service responsibilities, the Toolbox provides information and all the tools - forms, contacts, and references - to perform the many other pay-related tasks that managers undertake.

Your employee is requesting a Confirmation of Employment letter? Check the Common Employee Needs section. A member of your team wants to take Leave with Income Averaging? Find out what you need to do in the Leave section. And, coming soon, a section about staffing activities such as actings or retirement!

Whether you are a manager, supporting a manager as an administrative or executive assistant, or an employee who wants to know what’s required, all of the tools you need are right at hand in the Manager's Toolbox!

Have you considered Pre-retirement transition leave?

Pre-retirement transition leave is a special working arrangement available to those within two years of eligibility for an unreduced pension (this must be confirmed by the Pension Centre prior to submission of an application). You may request to have your workweek reduced by up to 40%, or up to two out of the five working days. You may take pre-retirement transition leave for up to two years but must agree in writing to retire at the end of the leave period.

Your pay is adjusted to reflect the shorter workweek, but your pension and benefits coverage, as well as premiums and contributions, continue as before.

Your employment status, either full-time or part-time, will remain unchanged during the working arrangement and you remain covered by your Collective Agreement and Terms and Conditions of Employment.

You may wish to visit the Government of Canada Pension Centre site to find additional information on preparing for retirement or Appendix C of the Directive on Leave and Special Working Arrangements.

If you are interested in such an arrangement, or to discuss your upcoming retirement, please contact the Life Events team for guidance.

USEFUL LINKS

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

RETIREMENT PLANNING

Thinking about retirement?

  • Contact the Pension Center six months prior to your anticipated retirement date to confirm your pension entitlements.
  • You can estimate your pension benefits using the CWA pension calculator.
  • Contact the Life Events Team to discuss the impact of retirement on your pay and benefits.
  • If you are considering retirement for medical reasons, notify the Pension Centre who will provide further information.

Choose a pension option and retirement date

  • Contact the Life Events Team to discuss your retirement date. The exact date you choose can have an impact on pay and benefits.

Once you have chosen your retirement date

  • Contact the Pension Centre to notify them of your retirement date and request the package and forms.
  • Submit your resignation letter to your manager. This can also be done via email.
  • Receive an acceptance letter or email from your manager.
  • Your manager submits the resignation letter and confirmation of acceptance with a PAR to the Pay Centre via the Trusted Source using worktype Termination, subtype Retirement.
    If this is for a medical retirement, the approval letter from Health Canada must be included.

Complete and send the required forms to the Pension Centre

  • Complete the required forms and send them by registered mail to the Pension Centre. Call the Pension Centre if you have questions. Keep a copy of all your documents.
  • Plan for recovery of the Transition Payment, if applicable.

Just before you retire

  • Ensure your leave balances are accurate by ensuring all leave and overtime requests have been submitted and approved.
  • Ensure your personal information in PeopleSoft is accurate. After your departure, any changes must be communicated to MyPay.

Happy Retirement!

Manager’s Corner

Planning on hiring a student this summer? Regardless of the student hiring option you choose (FSWEP, Co-op, etc.), it is important to plan your hiring timelines. The security screening process and the 17-day timeliness measure in place to avoid payroll problems have a significant impact on the time it takes to hire a student. If you wish to have a student hired by the first week of May, you should start the hiring process at the beginning of March.

For more information on the different student programs, repository and initiatives (such as the National Indigenous Student Recruitment Initiative or Repository of Students with Disabilities), please contact your Regional Human Resources Advisor.