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Benefit rates change for new fiscal year
The group benefits contracts that cover the University of Waterloo’s extended health, dental, long term disability benefits and life insurance are renewed May 1 of each year, and Human Resources has circulated its annual memo to employees informing them of that fact. "The corresponding rates are based on the claims experience and expenses charged by our providers," says the memo from HR. The rates (inclusive of 8 percent PST) that apply effective May 1, 2017 are as follows:
Extended Health Care and Dental Monthly Rates
Rates are 100 percent university-paid, and pro-rated if the employee is part-time:
| Single | Family | Rate change from 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extended Health | $67.93 | $216.80 | Increase of 4.6 percent |
| Dental | $35.88 | $107.95 | Decrease of 1.8 percent |
Long Term Disability Premium Rate
This premium is 100 percent employee-paid.
| Rate | Rate change from 2016 |
|---|---|
| 1.174 percent of earnings | Increase of 7.5 percent |
For a table that outlines sample salary ranges and monthly premiums, consult Human Resources' Benefits page for updated information.
Life Insurance Premium Rates
"For premium rate purposes, life insurance is divided into basic and optional life components; a single premium rate applies for basic life whereas several premium rates based on age, gender and smoking status apply for optional life coverage," says the HR memo. "Premium rates for optional life remain unchanged but the basic life rates will decrease by 7.1 percent effective May 1, 2017."
| Benefit | Cost sharing | Employee rates | University rates | Change from 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Life (1x annual earnings) | 100 percent University-paid | Not applicable | $0.1134/$1,000 | Decrease of 7.1 percent |
| Additional Basic Life (1 to 2 x annual earnings | 66.7 percent University-paid | $0.0378/$1,000 | $0.0756/$1,000 | |
| Optional Life (1 to 3 x annual earnings | 0 percent University-paid | Check table rate on HR website | Not applicable | No change |
The optional life premium rates are based on per $1,000 of coverage per month and the rates change based on age, gender, and whether or not the insured is a smoker. Check the Human Resources Benefits site for more details on the optional life premiums and a table that breaks down the cost of coverage by age and other characteristics.
Anyone with questions regarding these rates is invited to please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca for more information.
Boreal lake findings may be key to understanding early life on Earth
A team of researchers has discovered that many Canadian lakes can provide new insights into ancient oceans, and their findings could advance research about greenhouse gas emissions, harmful algal blooms, and early life forms.
Scientists from the University of Waterloo led the team of microbiologists, geochemists, and freshwater specialists in a surprising finding that lakes of the Boreal Shield may be similar to oceans of the Archean Eon, a period more than 2.5 billion years ago when microbial life thrived in a world without oxygen.
This finding is important because there are millions of Boreal Shield lakes in Canada that likely share key properties with the Archean oceans. Until now, scientists have relied on only four so-called analogue lakes—ones with similar primordial conditions—most of which are found in remote or ecologically sensitive locations.
“With so many lakes to study, this discovery changes how we approach this field of research,” said co-author Jackson Tsuji, a doctoral student in the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science. “It’s exciting that these lakes, which are basically in our backyard, hold information that could have implications for global climate, past and present, and water management.”
Published in Scientific Reports, the findings have the potential to transform how scientists carry out research about Earth’s earliest life forms, which originated in oxygen-free oceans thought to be low in sulphur and high in iron. Many Boreal Shield lakes, also low in sulphur and high in iron, develop oxygen-free layers each summer. Although these layers mix in the spring and fall, they re-establish quickly.
“We used to think finding a suitable Archean ocean analogue meant that you had to find a lake that didn’t mix. For example, current analogues are hundreds of metres deep and completely stratified,” said Josh Neufeld, a professor in the Department of Biology. “An important discovery here was how robust this oxygen-free community is, despite the mixing.”
Researchers can use these lakes as living laboratories to study how microbes of the past might have functioned. The microbes detected in the sampled lakes are thought to metabolize iron compounds with the help of sunlight, which may help researchers understand how to predict and control harmful algal blooms because iron plays a key role in algal bloom formation.
In addition, the unique and previously unknown microbial communities, specifically methane-consuming microbes at the bottom of these lakes, have broad implications for greenhouse gas emissions.
The study compared aspects of the four current Archean-ocean analogues to two Boreal Shield lakes using water chemistry, microbial community profiles, and stable isotope patterns. The researchers’ unique application of the latest biological and isotopic tools shows that similar biological processes to existing analogues are not only present, but active in the water, reoccurring every year.
“This groundbreaking discovery was possible because we had the flexibility to pursue some unexpected results with a multi-disciplinary team using state-of-the-art tools and techniques,” said Sherry Schiff, a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Boreal Shield lakes are widespread across the Boreal Shield, the largest of the Canadian ecozones, which extends across more than 20 per cent of Canada’s land mass. Similar lakes are found in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia.
The study’s other authors are Lingling Wu and Richard Elgood, from Waterloo’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Jason Venkiteswaran of Wilfrid Laurier University, Lewis Molot of York University, and Michael Paterson of the IISD-Experimental Lakes Area. Neufeld, Schiff, and Wu are members of the Water Institute.
President's Community Breakfast and other notes
President Feridun Hamdullahpur, along with 100 community partners, University leaders and government officials came together on Friday, April 28, to reflect on our roots, glimpse into our future, and announce the new President’s Community Impact Awards.
The President’s Community Breakfast 2017, held at THEMUSEUM in Kitchener, celebrated the deep roots that Waterloo has in the community and to the many collaborations and partnerships that have grown over the years and will continue to grow into the future strengthening the bond between University and community in Waterloo Region.
Human Resources has reported that retiree Peter Stevens died on April 20. He started at the University of Waterloo in July 1980 and retired in August 1991 as Kiosk Information Attendant in Parking Services. He was predeceased by his spouse Ramona.