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Get to know your total compensation

Last updated on March 25, 2024

Total compensation (annual salary plus benefits) is provided in exchange for the work you do. 

Benefits

On average, the value of your total benefits package is more than 20% of your salary. This value increases the more you use your benefits.

Employee benefits include things like:

Regular employees are eligible for benefits. Benefit plans are a bit different depending on what type of employee you are.

Visit Benefits for bargaining unit employees or Benefits for excluded employees to find out:

  • What benefit plans are included
  • What’s covered under each plan
  • When coverage begins and ends
  • How to enrol
  • Claiming deadlines and how to make a claim
  • What happens if your work status changes

Benefits for auxiliary employees. Auxiliary employees can enrol for benefits after completing 1,827 hours of work in 33 pay periods with the same ministry. Until then, they receive an allowance in lieu of benefits.

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Enrol for benefits

Complete the forms. This step is definitely no fun, but it’s essential. Getting enrolled is not automatic and it’s time sensitive.

Register for online access to benefits. Once you're enrolled, register on the Canada Life My Canada Life at Work website to check your info or submit claims.

Keep your information and options updated. As life events happen, like moving, getting married or having children, be sure to update your information and benefits.

Get more info by submitting a service request to AskMyHR (IDIR restricted).

 

Get to know your pension

Members of the Public Service Pension Plan are eligible for a lifetime monthly pension when they retire. Once they’ve made their first contribution to the plan, they can receive a pension at their earliest retirement age.

Do not delay learning about your pension. Register for My Account to find current information about your pension.

Find out how your pension works and how life events or career decisions can affect it:

As an active member of the pension plan, you contribute 8.35% of your salary through automatic deductions from each paycheque. The BC Public Service contributes about 10% of your total salary on your behalf.

Pension funds are made up of:

  • 20-25% personal contributions
  • 75-85% from investments

 

Getting paid

Check your confirmation letter. It’ll tell you what your bi-weekly salary will be before deductions.

Most employees start at the entry level of the salary assigned to their job classification. Salary increments determine when employees will get a raise. Ask your supervisor for more information.

Pay day is every second Friday. Your paycheque will be automatically deposited into your bank account once you fill out the direct deposit authorization form (PDF, 229KB).

You can also check with your supervisor to find out how long it will take to receive your first paycheque.

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Deductions are different each pay period

Every pay period, deductions are made for:

  • Income tax, employment insurance premiums (EI) and Canada Pension Plan contributions (CPP)
  • Pension contributions (called the 'Superannuation Plan') has a contribution rate of 8.35% of your salary
    • All employees contribute to their pension, including auxiliary employees
    • Auxiliary employees will notice a deduction for contributions once they've earned at least 50% of the year's maximum pensionable earnings (YMPE) in any calendar year
    • The YMPE amount is set by the Government of Canada
  • Union dues (for union employees only) vary depending on the union or association
    • BCGEU union dues are set at a rate of 1.85% of your total salary
  • BC Transit ProPASS for employees who have enrolled for one
    • 50% of the total cost of the pass is deducted each pay period

On the first paycheque of the month, deductions are made for:

  • Employee benefits

Track pay and deductions on your pay stub.

 

Overtime is paid according to employee type

If an employee works hours outside of their regularly assigned schedule, they may be eligible for overtime pay:

 

Time entry and taking time off

Enter your timesheet. Your supervisor will show you how to use the Time and Pay portal from work (IDIR restricted) or home (IDIR restricted) to track your schedule, enter a timesheet and record leave.

Take time off. Leave options include vacation, parental leave, deferred salary leave, earned time off and special leave.

Vacation time is calculated annually and is renewed every January. You need to take your vacation time each year, but a bit of it can be carried over into a new year.

Talk to your supervisor or someone on your team to find out about your work unit’s processes for scheduling leave:

Changing jobs or moving for work

Transferring between employee categories may impact your total compensation. If you’re transferring to or from a bargaining unit (union), excluded, temporary, regular or auxiliary position, confirm eligibility and then enrol for the benefits program that corresponds to your new position. 

Check how the change will impact your salary, benefits and pension:

Supervisors coordinate transferring employees between ministries. Your current supervisor needs to complete the employee exit checklist and approve your data (including your IDIR) and equipment transfer. After that, your new supervisor can complete your incoming transfer requests.

Relocation allowance. Financial assistance may be available for employees who need to move to start a new position or because their ministry has asked them to relocate.