At uOttawa, we value your well-being and success. As an employee, you’ll enjoy a diverse range of benefits to help you reach your potential, support you through transitions and simply enjoy life.

Benefits at a glance

For our full-time employees, our comprehensive benefits package include:

  • Pension plan
  • Group insurance
  • Tuition coverage
  • Professional development programs
  • Access to on campus facilities and events
  • Reduced summer hours
  • and more!

Note: Benefits, pension plan, insurance and other employment conditions may vary based on union membership and status and are subject to change.

Sun shining through campus building with fallen leaves on the grass.

Pension plan 

For full-time employees, the University of Ottawa Retirement Pension Plan is one of the top defined-benefit pension plans in the province! This means that when you retire, you’ll receive a pension determined by a formula based on your earnings and contribution history, rather than on investment returns.

At your retirement or pension commencement, the plan provides a pension predetermined by a formula based on your final average pensionable earnings (i.e., the 60 best months) and credited service, rather than depending directly on investment returns. Furthermore, the pension is protected from inflation and normally increases every January 1, to reflect at least part of the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The plan has generous early retirement rules. It allows you to retire before age 65 — as early as age 60 (or earlier if you reach 90 points in age plus credited service) — and collect an unreduced pension for your lifetime. You can also start receiving a pension from age 55 with a reduction if you don’t have the 90 points.

We offer extensive and very competitive insurance benefits coverage that’s mostly paid by the employer. Benefits may include extended health insurance, basic dental insurance, optional dental insurance, basic life insurance, long-term disability insurance and a health-care spending account for eligible employees.

Employee and Family Assistance Program

Let uOttawa help you through difficult times. The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is a confidential, voluntary service that can support you and help you find solutions to challenges regarding your work, health or life in general. The program is there for you, your eligible spouse and dependent children, and it’s free. Services offered through our provider include:

  • Short-term professional counselling
  • Career counselling
  • Family support
  • Legal and financial support
  • Naturopathic services, nutrition support and health coaching
Learn more about the program
Father working with kids climbing on his shoulders.

To help you meet your personal and career goals, uOttawa has created a dynamic work environment in which learning and development plans feature opportunities for internal promotion, on-the-job success, competency development abroad and second-language training. Career development and investing in our employees is important us. We offer a variety of services geared towards employees that make us one of the best employers in the region year after year.   

  • Career development funding
  • Learning and skills development
  • Recognition and engagement
  • Leadership development
  • Mentorship and job shadowing
  • Coaching

At uOttawa, we put people first! We support activity-based learning strategies to ensure maximum results and employee success. We can’t wait to meet you!

Tabaret Hall

Tuition fee support

We’re proud to offer you financial support through credits equivalent to 100% of tuition fees. This program is available to you, your spouse and your declared and eligible dependants (subject to eligibility rules).
Policy 22 - Tuition Fee Financial Support

What better way to learn English or French than enrolling in our free courses? Knowing both of Canada’s official languages is extremely beneficial to your professional development. In partnership with Human Resources, our Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) offers free courses in English or French as a second language to University of Ottawa faculty and staff, to strengthen your proficiency in your second official language. In many instances, courses are also open to family members.

Employees doing yoga on the Tabaret lawn.

Mental health resources  

At uOttawa, we believe our employees come first. we’re committed to mental health and wellness. A variety of resources, workshops and activities are available to help maintain and increase your wellness.

Health Services

Your health and wellness are important to us. The Telemedicine services offer a suite of virtual health services to faculty, staff, members of the associations of retirees and their eligible family members. The new services will provide direct and speedy online access to general practitioners 24/7 without charge to the patient regardless of your province of residence. Wait times will be reduced to mere minutes without having to leave your home or office.

Services will include medical consultations, assessments, prescription renewals, referrals to specialists and laboratory requisitions.

To learn more about LifeWorks Telemedicine LifeWorks Telemedicine | University of Ottawa (uottawa.ca)

Sports Services: Access to infrastructures and activities

From free yoga sessions to golf tournaments, take advantage of the wide variety of sports facilities, recreational activities and summer camps offered by Sports Services at a discounted rate for you and your family!

People at networking event shaking hands.

Professional association membership fees

If you’re a regular administrative or support staff member, your professional association membership fees may be reimbursed by the faculty, school or service (under certain conditions).

Gee Gees mascot standing beside welcome sign.

Campus store

Proud to be a Gee-Gee? Represent uOttawa wherever you go! Employees are eligible for special offers such as a 10% discount on clothing and some books from our campus store. Exclusive employee events are also organized throughout the year.

Person browsing aisles at library.

Library

One of the best perks working at uOttawa is access to our library! Our library is an essential partner in fulfilling the research, teaching and learning mission of the University. We’re proud to have three main libraries and service areas — the Morisset Library (for arts and sciences), the Brian Dickson Law Library and the Health Sciences Library — in addition to a number of specialized research collections. You’ll also have access to a variety of newspapers and magazine subscriptions.

Employees working collaboratively.

Teaching and Learning Support Services

The Teaching and Learning Support Service (TLSS) helps faculty members innovate in their course design and develop active learning approaches for their students. With a team of 60+ specialists in university teaching, learning and the latest educational technologies, it offers various consulting, training and research services as well as awards, chairs and funds for teaching and learning.

Campus building.

Leading facilities

Our facilities and related resources play a pivotal role advancing uOttawa’s mission and achieving teaching, learning and research excellence. Take advantage of our facilities and make the campus feel like your second home!

Vacation days and holiday breaks

As an employee of uOttawa, you are entitled to the following paid holidays every year:  

  • Christmas Day (December 25) 
  • Boxing Day (December 26) 
  • New Year’s Day (January 1) 
  • Family Day (third Monday of February) 
  • Good Friday  
  • Easter Monday  
  • Victoria Day (Monday before May 25) 
  • Canada Day (July 1) 
  • Civic Holiday (first Monday of August) 
  • Labour Day (first Monday of September) 
  • Thanksgiving Day (second Monday of October) 

Winter Holiday  

In 2021–2022, the winter holiday period begins at 5 p.m. on December 22. Work resumes on January 3, at 8:45 a.m., or at the regular starting time for employees. The exact start and return dates will vary slightly depending on the calendar year. During this period, you’re on paid leave.

Vacation Days (annual leave) 

Being able to take time off to recharge and spend time with your loved ones is important to us. We encourage you to take advantage of your annual leave each year.

Your vacation (annual) leave is determined by your years of continuous service with uOttawa, along with your bargaining unit and status. Your number of paid days off increases with your seniority.

Summer hours

At uOttawa, we offer summer hours, allowing you to leave one hour earlier. Summer hours start on June 1 and end on August 31.

Additional leaves

We offer the following types of additional leave to support you and your dependants in times of transition:

  • Sick leave  
  • Maternity leave (with top up) 
  • Parental leave 
  • Wedding leave  
  • Bereavement leave  
  • Religious service leave  
  • Court leave 
  • Family obligations 
  • Emergency leaves 
  • Moving leave 
People grabbing food from the dining hall.

On-campus food services

Our 24/7 Dining Hall is open to students, staff, faculty and guests! Enjoy hot meals prepared by talented chefs with a variety of options depending on your dietary needs! Food outlets are also spread out across our campuses for your convenience.

Arial view of uOttawa O-Train stop.

Sustainable transportation

Transportation is one way we can achieve sustainability! We strongly encourage employees to commute sustainably. We offer various types of transportation options, including our University shuttle bus system, as well as parking for motorcycles, bikes, carpooling and car sharing.

You can also enrol in the Société de transport de l’Outaouais’ (STO) FIDÉLITÉ program for a monthly discount on an STO transit pass. And if you work on the weekends or holidays, you can park in any of uOttawa’s parking lots for free! Tip - The O-Train light rail service gets you directly on campus!

uOttawa employee headshot

Association of university retirees

The University will always be your home, even after retirement! Stay connected with the uOttawa community through our two retirees’ associations:

  • Administrative Staff Retirees Association of the University of Ottawa (ASRA)
  • Association of Professors Retired from the University of Ottawa (APRUO)