2004 Total Compensation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- General Information
- Interpretation of Your Personalized Total Compensation Statement
- Group Life Beneficiaries
- Extended Health & Dental
- Medical Services Plan (MSP)
- Contact Information
Q1. What is the purpose of the 2004 Total Compensation Statement?
A1. The annual total compensation statement is to increase your awareness of the total value of your compensation (both salary and benefits). As an employer, we recognize that compensation and benefits are integral to our ability to keep and attract employees who foster excellence in the public service. This statement is for your information purposes only.
Q2. Who received a total compensation statement?
A2. Total compensation statements were sent to all regular employees (part-time and full-time) who are currently working for the BC Government and worked in the public service during the 2004 calendar year.
Q3. Who did not receive a total compensation statement?
A3. A total compensation statement was not prepared for the following individuals:
- Long Term Disability (LTD) recipients;
- Auxiliary employees (as of December 31, 2004);
- Liquor Distribution Branch;
- BC Mental Health Society;
- Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission;
- Non-Public Service Act OIC’s from an Agency, Board or Commission;
- Salaried Physicians; and
- Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) members.
Q4. We received a statement for an employee who is currently not at work. What should we do with it?
A4. The employee’s home address is included in the window of the envelope. Please place the statement in the mail so it may be sent to the employee’s residence.
Q5. Why are the total compensation statements not on-line?
A5. Based on suggestions that we received last year, we are working towards distributing these statements to you on-line in the future.
Q6. My home address is incorrect on the statement. How do I update it?
A6. To update your address, you can visit Employee Self
Serve.
Q7. How much did it cost to prepare these statements?
A7. The total cost to design, produce and distribute the statements was approximately 73 cents per employee.
Q8. Can I reconcile my total compensation statement to my 2004 T4?
A8. No. The 2004 total compensation statement is primarily based on amounts earned in 2004. Your 2004 T4 was based on amounts paid and/or taxable benefits received in 2004.The
Total Compensation statement is based on 26 pay periods (a standard year) so
that you may compare your statements year over year. For 2004, there were 27
pay dates but for the total compensation statements we used a standard year of
26 pay periods.
Q9. What data sources were used to compile the statements?
A9. The personalized information on your statement is based on recorded data from the BC Government’s pay and leave system.
Q10. Why doesn’t my salary listed on the statement match my current salary?
A10. The statement is based on your information for the 2004 calendar year.
Your base pay amount shown on the statement is “your base pay” minus “your pay for time away”.
Q11. Why is my total salary (shown on the statement) less than my yearly
salary?
A11. If you were a new employee or you took a leave of absence during 2004, your salary and benefits will be calculated based on the months in which you were working.
Q12. Why does my vacation amount not seem correct?
A12. Your vacation figure was calculated based on the amount of vacation earned for 2004, not vacation taken.
Q13. What does “Other Earnings” mean?
A13. “Other earnings” includes a number of items not included as part of your base salary. Examples of “other earnings” are: isolation allowance; overtime; temporary market adjustment; overtime shift work and standby; shift premiums; compensatory time off; clothes allowance; first aid allowance; and substitution pay. To find out more about “other earnings”, please refer to the official hard copy of your collective agreement or terms and conditions of employment.
Q14. What does “Other paid absences” mean?
A14. There are a variety of paid leaves which are a component of your pay for time away from work. Examples of “other paid absences” are: wedding of an employee; household emergency; moving household effects; family illness; bereavement leave; and maternity/ parental allowance. To find out more about “other paid leaves”, please refer to the official hard copy of your collective agreement or terms and conditions of employment.
Q15. I was on a Long Term Disability Rehabilitation Trial in 2004 – how was my total compensation statement calculated?
A15. Your total compensation statement was based on partial earnings from the BC Government pay/leave system. Long Term Disability/Rehabilitation earnings were not included in the overall calculation.
Q16. How do I change or update my Group Life beneficiary?
A16. To change or update your group life insurance beneficiary, you need to complete a new beneficiary form and forward it to the Benefits Service Centre. The forms and instructions are available
by clicking on the following link…
Group Life Beneficiary
Form. Please note. You must complete a separate form to change your beneficiary for the Public Service Pension Plan. For further information, please
visit BC Pension Corporation.
Q17. How do I change who is covered under my Medical Services Plan (MSP), Extended Health and Dental benefits plans?
A17. You need to complete forms to make a change to your benefits plan. For instructions and forms, please
visit Changes to Your
Enrollment. In addition, the benefits which are listed on your total compensation statement are based on your employee group status as of December 31, 2004.
Q18. Why does my group life beneficiary show “multiple beneficiaries”?
A18. We provided enough space on the statement for up to three beneficiaries. If you have more than three, “multiple beneficiaries” will appear. Feel free to contact the
Benefits Service Centre if you wish to check your beneficiary information on file.
Q19. Why does my group life beneficiary show “no beneficiary on file”?
A19. You have not completed a form to designate a beneficiary for your group life insurance. If you wish to designate a beneficiary, please complete a Group Life beneficiary form. If you do not name a beneficiary, the benefit would be payable to your estate. The forms and instructions are available
at Group Life Beneficiary
Form.
Q20. Why can’t I have the actual cost for extended health and dental, long term disability, and workers’ compensation listed on my statement?
A20. For extended health and dental, long term disability and WCB, we reported the amounts based on premium rates. As mentioned in your total compensation statements, Pacific Blue Cross offers a secure on-line system that tracks recent extended health and dental claims. To register and access CARESnet, you can visit
Pacific Blue Cross.
Medical Services Plan (MSP)Q21. Why does the MSP premium amount show up under “Your Employer's Payment” column?
A21. MSP is 100% employer paid benefit. The MSP premiums paid on your behalf are a taxable benefit and show on your pay advice.
Q22. What do I do if I see a mistake on my statement?
A22. Please feel free to contact the Benefits Service Centre. Their contact information is listed below: (250)
356-6030 (in Victoria)
1-800-341-4611 (toll-free outside Victoria)
BenefitsServiceCentre@gov.bc.ca (e-mail)
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