Fully Benefiting from GSS Benefits?

Are you taking full advantage of your GSS benefits?…

Life gets busy, the year goes by, and we can miss out on annual benefits and other supports available to permanent GSS staff*. Check out these benefits, available to help you and your family stay well—physically, emotionally, and financially.

Physical Fitness Wellness

First the physical. Likely, you’re familiar with Cooperator’s insurance covering a portion of prescription, dental, and visual service costs—those unavoidable health needs. But don’t overlook other services with some coverage. Got an ache that won’t go away? Trouble sleeping? Maybe a  chiropractor, physio, or massage session would help. (If you’ve never used these benefits before, make sure you have a look at the benefit booklet to ensure you are covered for what you need prior to having a treatment.  Also, Lisa Macdonald, our Benefits, Payroll and People Experience Manager, is always happy to help and available with any questions you may have.)

Are you taking advantage of the Corporate Wellness Program? Staff qualify for 15 to 20% discounts at City-operated sports and fitness facilities. That means an annual membership for one person is $49/month instead of $61. For a family, an all-facility pass is $135/month instead of $169. Choose from multiple ways to stay fit from swimming, weight training, and fitness classes to playing racquetball, squash, or tennis. Some facilities even have indoor running tracks to enjoy during our cold, icy winters. Learn more at: Corporate Wellness Program | City of Edmonton.

Emotional Wellness

No one expected the added stress of COVID, but we all experienced it on top of the other stresses that life brings. Remember, that the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is always there to help. You might be surprised by the different ways you can access the service and the diverse life areas supported.

Check out the extensive online resources in the areas of Health & Well-being, Career & Workplace, Financial Security, and Life Events. For example, there are 21 articles on ‘Family & Relationships’, 27 articles on ‘Addiction’, and 4 articles on ‘Time Management’. Depending on how you want to interact with a counselor, you can use the ‘Chat Now’ feature, email a counsellor, or call 1-844-671-3327 to arrange personal sessions. Learn more at: workhealthlife.

 Financial Wellness

With costs rising, making the most of your salary is even more important. GSS has added some important benefits over the past years that contribute directly to your wallet. The $1000 Health Spending Account, available after a year of employment, will help with health-related costs beyond what Cooperators can cover. Use that for added dental bills or for those stylish but pricey glasses. The most recent benefit is the very flexible Personal Spending Account (PSA). Through the PSA, after a year of employment, a permanent staff member can be reimbursed up to $750 (taxable) for any type of purchase except alcohol or tobacco products.

 In the midst of managing daily expenses, planning for the future is still important and a good reason to consider the RRSP matching program. This is an optional program in which GSS matches from $25 up to $100 per month of employee contributions. That’s a double win because at year end you could have $2400 in a registered retirement plan (half of which GSS contributed), and you deduct the full amount at tax time.  And, of course, you keep building your retirement fund.

 Want to learn more about financial management or juggling those bills? Check out the ‘Financial Security’ section of the EFAP website. There are articles on 10 important money-related topics including ‘Financial Planning’, ‘Credit & Debt Management’, ‘Budgeting’, and ‘Real Estate/Mortgages.’ You can also read up on some aspect of finances, then arrange to talk about the topic with an EFAP counsellor for some discussion specific to your situation.

Much time and attention has gone into the benefits package at GSS. Take time to understand all the benefits available to you and your family.  You do important work at GSS and the benefits are in place to support you doing that work and enjoying the other, equally important, parts of your life.

 For more information on GSS benefits, review the following procedures in the Personnel Manual on Bamboo:

· Staff Support
· Group Insurance Benefits
·  Personal Spending Account Claim Processing
·  Personal Time Benefit

*Permanent staff: part-time or full-time employees working a minimum of 30 hours on a regular continuous basis.