Health and Wellness

The City has a lot to offer employees, in addition to an attractive compensation package and coverage for medical and dental expenses. When employees are well, they are more engaged and productive when at work. That is why we offer eligible employees the following health and wellness opportunities: 

Comprehensive Health Benefits

The City’s active benefit plans are 100 per cent employer paid. That means that eligible employees (depending on the plan) may be able to access group coverage which includes, but is not limited to, health care including paramedical, dental care, short-term disability, long-term disability, life and AD&D without paying any premiums. All plans and coverage are arranged based on affiliation.

Retiree Benefits

Upon retirement from the City with a pension, eligible employees are automatically transferred to the Retiree Extended Health Care Plan which provides coverage until age 65. If they are over the age of 55 and have at least 15 years of continuous service with the City on retirement, the City pays 100 per cent of the premium for this coverage to age 65. Eligible employees can also elect to maintain their dental coverage until age 65 provided they prepay the premiums. 

Pension

The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) is a defined benefit pension plan which is designed to provide a predictable income in retirement. An OMERS pension can be one of our members' most valuable assets. When a member retires, they receive regular pension payments that continue for the rest of their lives. It offers early retirement options and can be transferred to other public sector plans. Employee contributions to the OMERS pension plan are matched 100 per cent by the City. Explore the OMERS website for more information. 

Wellness Programs

Employee Assistance Program 

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential and voluntary support service that gives employees and their immediate family members confidential support, resources and information for personal and work-life issues. Support is provided over the telephone, in person, or online. For each concern someone is experiencing, they can receive a series of sessions. There are also take online tools and resources to help manage personal wellbeing. 

LifeSpeak  

LifeSpeak gives employees access to a mental health and wellbeing platform that provides expert education and advice on issues that affect their everyday lives, whenever and wherever they need it. 

Fitness Facility Discounts 

Both the YMCA and Goodlife offer City of Greater Sudbury employees discounted membership rates 

Employee Wellness Card

Eligible employees receive free admission to fitness centres, public swimming, and public skating operated by the City of Greater Sudbury. 

Time Away

Eligible employees are entitled to the following 13 specified days as paid holidays: 

  • New Year's Day
  • Family Day
  • Good Friday
  • Easter Monday
  • Victoria Day
  • Canada Day
  • Civic Holiday
  • Labour Day
  • National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Remembrance Day
  • Christmas Day
  • Boxing Day

Eligible employees receive paid vacation above employment standards. 

Continuous Service as of December 31 of any Year

Maximum Annual Entitlement in Calendar year following
1 month to 12 months 15 work days (prorated)
after 1 year 15 work days
after 4 years 20 work days
after 9 years 25 work days
after 19 years 30 work days
after 24 years or more 35 work days

Banked Time 

Employees who are eligible for overtime pay can choose to bank their overtime hours for extra paid days off. Details on the operation of banked time are governed by the applicable collective bargaining agreement. 

Non Union Vacation Purchase Program 

The City offers a Vacation Purchase Program (VPP) to provide additional time off and flexibility with the goal of positively impacting work/life balance for Non Union Full Time Permanent or Long-Term Contract Employees. To supplement an employee’s earned vacation time and other entitlements, the City offers a Vacation Purchase Program (VPP), which would allow employees to purchase additional vacation days, which when added to their annual vacation entitlement, would allow for up to a maximum of eight weeks of vacation per year (inclusive of the one week of vacation per year in lieu of overtime). 

Illness and Leaves  

The City believes in helping employees maintain a certain level of earnings during periods of illness or injury. Putting this philosophy into practice, the City provides the following benefit plans and services, as part of the Income Protection Plan. The Income Protection Plan includes Weekly Indemnity Bank Days (up to six sick days per year), Short Term Disability (STD) Plan, and Long-Term Disability Plan (LTD). In some cases, employees have access to a Sick Leave Plan (accrual of sick time each month in lieu of WI, STD & LTD) 

Pregnancy/parental leave top up

Eligible employees receive 75 per cent of their regular earning during the EI one week waiting period.  

After this one week period, once the employee begins receiving EI Maternity benefits, they receive a top up to 75 per cent of their regular earnings at the commencement of the leave. The allowance continues while the employee is in receipt of EI Maternity Benefits and is limited to a maximum of 15 weeks. 

Health and Safety

At the City of Greater Sudbury, the health and safety of our employees is a top priority. A key aspect of a great employment experience is a strong, shared commitment to workplace health and safety. We are committed to accident and illness prevention through the integration of health and safety considerations into all planning, operations and department activities. We have many health and safety programs and initiatives for the continuous improvement of safety in our workplace, including: 

  • Joint health and safety committees;
  • Ergonomic assessments;
  • Injury/illness prevention, support and return to work programs;
  • Extensive health and safety training.