Member news: April 29, 2021

Learn how shift work can affect the value of your pension

What’s happening?

As of January 1, 2021, your employer must use a formula, called method 3, to calculate the pensionable service for full-time shift workers. Using method 3 ensures that full-time shift workers who work all shifts available to them receive the full amount of pensionable service each year.

Pensionable service is the actual time you work while contributing to the plan. It may include service you’ve purchased or transferred from another plan. It’s used as part of the formula to determine the amount of your retirement benefit.

Your employer’s use of method 3 is effective January 1, 2021, and is not retroactive.

Are you a shift worker?

If you work for an employer whose normal operations during a 24-hour cycle are divided into adjacent work periods, or shifts, you are a shift worker. Each shift represents a full day’s work for an employee.

For a definition of shift worker, see “Shift worker” under S in the online glossary.

What you need to do

Review your Member’s Benefit Statement to ensure you’re receiving the correct amount of pensionable service each year. If you opted into digital communication, you can view your Member’s Benefit Statement at the end of April each year. You’ll receive a digital notification when it is available. You can also view your historical service through My Account.

If you haven’t opted in for digital communication, we distribute your Member’s Benefit Statement to you by the end of June each year.

If you have questions about your service or salary, speak to your employer.