The Ontario Construction Report – October 2009 – PAGE OCR 7
Benefits program supports workers, employers
One of the most valuable advantages of pendent/lifetime
membership in the Merit OpenShop Con- Based on current general and specialist den-
tractors Association of Ontario is its unique tal fee guides for Ontario
benefits program, with components specif-
ically designed for hourly field workers. Employee and Family Assistance Plan
Businesses have found they can “save * Toll-free 24 hour access to confidential
from 10 per cent to up to 40 per cent” for counselling services to assist in resolu-
employee benefits, says MOCAO’s Marie tion of personal problems or crisis.
Sonnenberg. Because of 50 per cent bene- * Eligibility is based on hours actually
fits plan deductibility rules, employees often worked. Three hundred hours is re-
gain more advantage by participating in a quired to start the plan and every month
benefits program than simply receiving a minimum of 150 hours is deducted
higher pay – and the MOCAO plan is com- and the employee will be “in benefit”.
parable to unionized benefits plans, Son- * Coverage can be terminated if the em-
nenberg says. ployee has less than 150 hours accumu-
Hours banked within the program can be lated in the HourBank, but coverage
transferred between MOCAO employers, al- can be continued for up to six months,
lowing the non-unionized worker a degree of under a self-pay option.
security and flexibility unavailable elsewhere.
Employers, meanwhile, keep their costs under The benefits plan is mandatory for all
control while attracting and retaining highly
* Payable to age 65. Dental Care
employees. Employees also participate in
qualified and committed employees.
* CPP is not deducted from the monthly * 80% coinsurance for: Basic Dental
the MeritPerks discount program to save on
A Separate plan with similar benefits is
amount. Services - including check up and
purchases, for travel, clothing, entertain-
available for office workers and company
cleaning: age 19 and over, every calen-
ment, furniture, etc. Apprentices who are
management, and field staff can add op-
Note: To be eligible for Disability benefits, dar year; under 19, once every six
enrolled in the Merit HourBank plan are el-
tional life insurance coverage, but the core
the employee must be in “benefit” under the months, fillings, extractions, root
igible for a refund of their tuition each year.
plan provides most benefits employees
LTD benefits, and actively at work at the canals, periodontal treatment, minor
would expect which few employers – espe-
time of disability denture repairs, oral surgery
Rates Effective January 1, 2009
cially smaller businesses – could hope to
* 50% coinsurance for: Major Dental
Core Program (life, health, dental, EAP):
find without MOCAO membership.
Extended Health and Vision Care Services - dentures, crowns and bridges
$1.00 per hour
The Merit HourBank plan for field em-
* 80% coinsurance for: prescription * $2,500/person/calendar year for Basic
Long Term Disability: $0.13
ployees includes:
drugs - pay-direct drug card and dis- and Major Services combined
MOCAO fees/administration: $0.12
pensing fee cap of $8.00 * 50% coverage for Orthodontia (braces)
Total Cost Per Hour: $1.25
Life Insurance and Accidental Death
* 100% coinsurance for: semi-private for under age 19, maximum $2,500/de-
Short Term Disability (Optional): $0.10
and Dismemberment: $ 70,000
hospital; emergency Out of Canada
services; Travel Assistance coverage,
Dependent Life: * Spouse: $10, 000
paramedical visits, other medical serv-
Breaking New Ground
* Child: $5,000
ices and supplies (certain maximums
and restrictions apply)
SERVICES: INDUSTRIES:
Long Term Disability:
General Contracting Civil/Infrastructure
* Paramedical practitioners - $500/year
Design/Build Institutional/Recreational
* The waiting period is 120 days or four
per practitioner and $600/year for phys-
months (after Employment Insurance)
Construction Management Industrial
iotherapy
Pre-Construction Commercial
* $2,000 per month for the first two
* $300 every two calendar years for
years, increasing to $2,500 thereafter
glasses, contacts or laser surgery for
SPECIALTY SERVICES: Concrete Formwork, Mechanical
(integrated with other income sources
adults, and every year for under age 19
to a maximum of 85 per cent of gross
* $75 every two calendar years for eye
or net pre-disability income depending
Burlington GO Parking Structure
exams for adults
on tax status of benefits).
MOCOA Mission
Merit OpenShop Contractors Association of Ontario’s mission is:
1. Political advocacy for fairness in construction legislation for the open shop
contractor;
2. Human resource solutions designed for the open shop contractor;
3. Bringing members together through networking events and the website di-
rectory;
4. Educating members on open shop issues and management.
“Since we’re Ontario’s only association whose business is open shop con-
tractors, MOCAO is uniquely poised to offer a variety of custom - tailored serv-
ices that no other association can,” the association says on its website at
http://www.openshop.ca.
Membership dues depend on the size of the business and whether you wish
to participate in the benefits plan, starting at $250 a year for businesses with
three to 10 employees who wish to participate in the plan. However, even for
U of T – Arts & Administration
mid to large companies, dues are not onerous; companies with 25 or more em-
Courtice Water Pollution Control Plant
Building- Scarborough Campus
ployees not participating in the benefits plan (perhaps because they have their
own internal plan) dues are $2,000 per year
KENAIDAN CONTRACTING LTD.
.
For more information, you can phone MOCAO toll free at 1-888-303-9878
1275 Cardiff Blvd., Mississauga, ON L5S 1R1 Tel: 905.670.2660
or email info@openshop.ca
kenaidan.com
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