Maintaining your benefits while on government-approved leave

When you are preparing to go on leave, you can choose to keep your benefits or cancel them.

When you receive EI benefits for a government (BC Employment Standards Act) approved leave such as maternity, parental, adoptive leave or compassionate care leave, UBC will continue to pay the employer portion of your benefit premiums if you pay the employee portion of the premiums that are normally deducted from your paycheque.

UBC will maintain your pension by contributing to the employer portion if you continue to contribute the employee portion.

 The Benefits Cost Calculator can tell you what it will cost you to maintain your benefits while on leave.

Once your leave has been processed in Workday, you will receive a Benefits Task in your Workday inbox to make your elections for On Leave benefit plans. After you submit your benefit elections, a Benefits Partner from Payroll will check that your benefits elections are correct and notify you of the monthly cost and next steps.

Please note that failing to pay your premiums is considered cancelling benefits. Your benefits would not be reinstated until you return to work. Some benefits will be automatically reinstated if you were enrolled before your leave:

• Basic Group Life Insurance
• Income Replacement Plan/Disability Benefit Plan
• Employee Family Assistance Plan
• Staff Pension Plan

If you were enroled in the Faculty Pension Plan, you will need to re-enrol for the plan via Workday.

For the optional benefits such as Extended Health and Dental plans, you will receive a notification in Workday to re-enrol. 

If you require assistance or support with Workday, please contact the Integrated Service Centre (ISC).