Leaves

Parental leave (maternity, paternity, adoption)

Parental leave includes absences related to childbirth or adoption, in accordance with your province’s labour standards.

During your parental leave

You may choose to maintain or suspend your participation in the DGPP. In both cases, you must inform your employer.

Unpaid leave

Unpaid leave is an unpaid absence that must be approved by your employer.

If the leave lasts 20 working days or less

• You must maintain your participation in the DGPP.

• You must pay your contributions.

Leaves of one or several days per week cannot be repeated for more than 4 consecutive weeks. If the leave is recurring, both you and your employer must contribute to the DGPP.

If the leave lasts more than 20 working days

You may choose to maintain your participation if both of the following conditions are met:

• Maximum duration: up to 5 years recognized by the DGPP, plus 3 additional years for parental or family leaves provided by law.

• Guaranteed return: your employer must confirm your return on the scheduled date.

In all cases, you must inform your employer of your decision regarding your participation in the DGPP.

Deferred pay leave

This type of leave allows you to finance a period of absence by deferring a portion of your salary. A prior agreement with your employer is required.

It includes two phases:

• Work period: you contribute to the DGPP based on 100% of your pre-reduction salary.

• Leave period: the rules for unpaid leave apply.

Paid leave

This is a paid absence.

• You must maintain your participation in the DGPP.

• Contributions are calculated based on the salary you receive during the leave.

Maintain or Suspend Your Participation?

In certain cases, you may choose to maintain or suspend your participation in the DGPP. Before making a decision, make sure you understand the key considerations.

If you maintain your participation

• Your retirement pension increases, as you continue to accumulate credited service based on your usual contribution hours.

• You know in advance the cost of maintaining your participation:

Parental leave: You and your employer continue to contribute during the leave. Your biweekly contribution amount is shown on your payslip.
Unpaid leave: You pay both your contribution and your employer’s share during the leave. Your biweekly contribution amount is shown on your payslip. To calculate the employer’s share: multiply your contribution by 1.85.

• The reference salary used depends on your employment status:

Full-time: Your regular salary before the leave.
Part-time: The average salary over the last 13 weeks worked.

If you suspend your participation

• Your pension does not increase during this period, as no credited service is accumulated.

• You may buy back this period later, before retirement.

The cost of the buyback will depend on the value of the associated pension, not on the amount of unpaid contributions.
The cost cannot be known in advance.

à Buying Back Past Service

Desjardins Group Pension Plan

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