News to Use – January 2023
News to Use is a monthly summary of HR information for all employees of McMaster University.
Important update about Sun Life changing their Pharmacy Benefit Manager effective March 1st 2023 – McMaster’s benefit plans are administered by Sun Life. To help process your prescription drug claims directly with pharmacies, Sun Life uses a Pharmacy Benefits Manager. Effective March 1st 2023, Sun Life is changing their Pharmacy Benefits Manager from Telus to Express Scripts Canada. This change will happen behind the scenes and no action is required on your part. Sun Life has been working with pharmacies across the country to inform them of the change and prepare for the transition so that it is an automatic change managed in the pharmacy’s system. The change will have no impact on your benefit plan provisions, the amount covered by the plan or the experience at the pharmacy. The McMaster contract number (25018) and ID number (your employee ID number) will remain the same. Should you or your covered dependents have any issues while visiting your local pharmacy on or after March 1, 2023, you can tell the pharmacist that the new Pharmacy Benefits Manager is Express Scripts Canada. Pharmacists will have access to support from Express Scripts Canada if they need it. You can also call Sun Life at 1-800-361-6212.
You can obtain an updated Sun Life drug card by either:
- Accessing a new version of your drug card through ca or the mySunLife mobile app. The new drug card that will show Express Scripts Canada’s name and logo can be downloaded on or after March 1st.
- Printing the drug card template that will be available on the HR website on March 1st. The template will show Express Scripts Canada’s name and logo, include the McMaster contract number and you can simply write your employee ID number in the Member ID number section.
Additional information about this change is available on the HR website. Any questions can be directed to your HR representative.
Top 3 HR Questions – The HR Client Services team is available for support to our staff and faculty community. The below represent 3 of our top inquiries or support requests for this month. For support, please contact extension 222HR (47) or hr.mcmaster@mcmaster.ca.
- Where can I find my travel assistance card?
Travel cards are available in print format within the information brochure. You can also download the Sun Life app and add a copy of the travel card to your Apple Wallet. More information on Emergency Travel Assistance can be found here.
- Is a Termination eform required for an employee who is transferring roles from one department to another department?
A Termination eForm is not required. The termination from their current role will be managed as part of the hire into the new department. More information on Employee Change Request eForms can be found here.
- Is a non-McMaster course/program eligible for Tuition Assistance coverage?
Non-McMaster course/programs are eligible if they are:
- undergraduate and graduate degree credit courses and college diploma courses from accredited educational institutions from both accredited Canadian universitiesand colleges and international institutions
- taken towards professional certifications/designations by professional bodies (e.g., C.I.M., C.Mgr., CPA) (as approved by Human Resources)
- are job related and at a minimum of 18 hours of classroom study (in addition to policy requirements).
More information on External Tuition Assistance can be found here.
Pulse at Pace Program (Runs until March 3) – Sponsored by Athletics & Recreation and Sun Life Financial, Pulse at PACE is a pilot project to help McMaster faculty and staff move more. Employees who register will have full access to the main gym at PACE, which is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., and Fridays between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Visit the Employee Well-being page for more details
Congratulations to McMaster’s TMG Peer Recognition Awards recipients!
Announcement and Celebration at the TMG Forum: February 9, 2023 – Join us at the TMG Forum on February 9 where we will be celebrating this year’s recipients of the TMG Peer Recognition Awards. Nominations for these awards open every year in October and offer a way for TMG members to acknowledge great work and express appreciation to one another. More information about the recipients will be posted on the website shortly.
Family Social Event hosted by McMaster’s Children’s Party and Community Engagement Committees – Sunday, February 19, 2023, A family-friendly event will be announced later this week, which will include a fun afternoon out to celebrate Family Day weekend. The event will take place on Sunday, February 19 at FirstOntario Centre and will allow families to take in a Hamilton Bulldogs Game plus other fun activities at the same event. Watch for more event and registration details later this week.
Inspiring From Within Conference – Wednesday, February 22, 2023, The annual Inspiring from Within Employee Development Conference strengthens and encourages the career and personal growth of McMaster employees by exploring ideas, suggestions and strategies. The annual conference offers employees the opportunity for professional development, networking with colleagues, and a chance to support their personal well-being. We hope you will join us in-person at PGCLL on February 22 for this conference with a theme focussing on Enhancing the Employee Experience.
Life@Mac – Make sure to review our upcoming events webpage and view the Multicultural Calendar
Questions? Call Human Resources at extension 222-HR or email us at hr.mcmaster@mcmaster.ca. You can also visit our website: https://hr.mcmaster.ca/
