Sick Leave Defined

Sick Leave covers both short-term disability (STD) & long-term disability (LTD) benefit plans for full-time members under either the 1980 or 1992 Hospitals of Ontario Disability Income Plan – HOODIP (Plan)

Short-Term Disability (STD), commonly known as "sick pay," offers financial support to members who cannot work due to illness or injury for the first 15 weeks. To be eligible for STD, a new employee needs to have been working for three months. The amount of money you receive while on STD depends on how long you've been a member and ranges from 66.66% to 100% of your income before you were unable to work.

A member's 15-week Short-Term Disability (STD) benefit is fully reinstated under either two  specific conditions:

When a member comes back to their job on the planned date, whether they return gradually as part of a return-to-work program with adjustments or without any need for accommodations, the full 15-week STD benefit is reinstated immediately after they complete their first scheduled shift. This is provided the reason for their new absence is different from the previous one.

If the new absence is due to the same condition as before, the member must successfully complete three consecutive weeks of work before the 15-week STD benefit is reinstated. These three weeks can include working reduced hours or having modified duties.

- From the 16th to the 30th week of absence, members can receive financial support through Employment Insurance (EI).

- Eligibility for EI requires meeting specific conditions based on the unemployment rate in the member's living area, typically including at least 600 hours of insured work in the previous year.

- Members must provide a medical certificate from their doctor or a recognized medical professional to apply for EI benefits for accidents and illnesses.

- Employers are responsible for electronically submitting the member's employment record to EI during the 5th to 12th week of the Short-Term Disability (STD) period.

- To avoid any delays in receiving these benefits, members are advised to initiate their EI claims at least two weeks before their STD benefits end. For more details, contact Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218 or visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca.

- Long-Term Disability (LTD) benefits start after Short-Term Disability (STD) and Employment Insurance (EI) benefits run out, typically after 30 weeks.

- It's advised to apply for LTD 6-8 weeks before EI benefits end to prevent delays.

- Eligibility varies: HOODIP 1992 requires six months of service, while HOODIP 1980 requires a year.

- Coverage can be transferred if re-employed within six months at a participating employer, upon request.

- Eligibility hinges on meeting the total disability definition during the initial 30 weeks or 210 days after the first missed day of work due to disability.

- If a disability recurs after returning to work, LTD benefits resume without a new qualification period. The recurrence provision differs by hire date: within the first 3 months for pre-2006 hires (1980 Plan) and within the first 6 months for post-2006 hires (1992 Plan).

This is general information.  Please contact ONA 111 so we can further advise and assist you.