Benefits

Your Benefits

There are virtual Benefit information sessions for faculty and staff held each month. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the benefits available to you as an employee and ask any questions. Register for the next session by searching the Employee Learning Calendar [login required]. 

Benefits Packages for Employee Groups

If you are eligible for benefits, see your relevant package below. You can also visit Employee Benefits on our People and Culture myDal site for more details [login required]. Visit pension plan for eligibilty for new employees.

• Regular, full-time and part-time (50% or greater) faculty and staff
  
• Associated employees
• Grant-Paid employees
  
• Post-Doctoral Fellows

Note: Benefit-eligible employees are enrolled in single health and travel coverage. Should you wish to add dental coverage or change to family coverage, there is a 60-day window from your job begin date to do so.

• Required paperwork and instructions are available under your relevant benefit package listed above.
• Any requests received after the 60 day enrolment window will be considered late and you and your dependants will be subject to the late application process, which may include restricted coverage and/or medical underwriting approval. 
• The 60-day window to update your benefit selections re-opens anytime a life event occurs. 
• If you have any questions about your benefits eligibility or the application process, please contact Employee Benefits at benefits@dal.ca or 902-494-1122. 
• Note: MSI or equivalent provincial health coverage is mandatory for participation in the group health and dental plan; if you do not have this in place, please contact Employee Benefits.

You will receive a benefits card with your policy number directly from Medavie Blue Cross in the mail after your eligibility date. For detailed information on your benefit entitlements and to submit claims online, please register with Medavie Blue Cross. There is also an app available for smartphones and tablets.

Benefits Information for Retirees

• Retirees

Additional Benefits Resources

• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) [login required]
  
• Dal Online
  
• belairdirect 
• Medavie Blue Cross

Employee Wellness Programs

• Health Spending Accounts:  Health Spending Accounts (HSA) allow employees a way to balance out areas where the plan isn’t as strong and provide more support to individuals where they need it the most. The HSA provides $1000 (except Postdoctoral Fellows that have $400) annually for health and dental expenses not reimbursed by the plan, with unused allotments carried over for one year. 
• Health and wellness:  By 6 months all employees have access to sick days, with the total number of days outlined in the employee's respective collective agreement and/or handbook.
  • There is also the benefit of having discounted membership at Dalplex in Halifax: a 50% cost savings versus a regular community member. 
  • Dalhousie has a corporate membership with GoodLife Fitness that gives a 30% discount. 
  • Health and safety are important for the well-being of all employees, students, and visitors to campus, and are everyone’s responsibility. For more information, visit Environmental Health and Safety.
• Enhanced mental health benefit:  Dalhousie offers an enhanced mental health benefit to all benefits-eligible faculty and staff. This benefit, up to a maximum of $1500, is specific to mental health services, and covers an expanded list of mental health practitioners including psychologists, social workers, counselling therapists, psychotherapists, psychoeducators, and Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT). 
• Visit Wellness on our People and Culture myDal site [login required] for wellness resources and supports available to faculty and staff.

Professional Development

The university encourages learning opportunities and professional development for faculty and staff through a tuition assistance program. 

• Tuition & tuition assistance: Dalhousie prioritizes educational opportunities for its employees. Regular, full-time and part-time faculty and staff (great than 50%) can take two full credits in one academic year free of tuition charges and dependents of that eligible employee group can receive 50% off tuition.
• Tuition assistance comes in two forms, waivers for Dalhousie courses (up to 2 full credits per academic year) and reimbursement for non-Dalhousie courses. 
• For information regarding tuition assistance, please refer to your collective agreement or handbook for details specific to your employee group.