Employee benefits
Northern Health offers a generous benefits package to employees, including their spouses and eligible dependents. Benefits vary by collective agreement or terms and conditions of employment and employee status. Benefits can include:
- Medical Services Plan of BC: Provides for payment of the costs of required medical, surgical obstetrical and diagnostic services of medical practitioners in BC. Out of province applicants must live in BC for three (3) months before they become eligible for coverage.
- Extended health: Provides supplementary health service coverage such as prescription drugs, practitioner services (like massage therapy, chiropractic care, etc.), vision care, hospital accommodation differential costs and more. Subject to some maximums.
- Dental: Provides reimbursement of basic, major, restorative and orthodontic services. Subject to some maximums.
- Long term disability: Provides continuing income in the event of a disability.
- Accidental death and dismemberment insurance: Provides additional financial protection over and above the group life insurance to your beneficiary in the event of accidental death while employed with Northern Health.
- Group life insurance: Provides financial protection to your beneficiary in the event of death while employed with Northern Health.
- Municipal Pension Plan: Provides a pension income based on your salary and years of service upon retirement. For more information, please visit: Municipal home (pensionsbc.ca).
Casual employees
- Casual status employees are eligible to purchase benefits and, in some circumstances, receive a refund for a portion of the costs.
Vacation and leave of absence
- Vacation: In the first year, eligible employees can earn up to four (4) weeks of vacation per year.
- Statutory holidays: 13 statutory holidays are observed throughout the year. Staff required to work on one of the holidays receive premium pay.
Ceremonial, cultural and spiritual leave for Indigenous employees
- Northern Health supports Indigenous employees to manifest, practice, develop and teach their spiritual and religious traditions, customs and ceremonies. This includes providing paid leave of absence of up to five (5) days per calendar year to Indigenous employees for this purpose.
Loan forgiveness program
You may be eligible for a loan forgiveness program through the Federal and BC Provincial Governments:
- If you are a nurse practitioner, nurse or physician and practice in rural or remote communities you may be eligible for the Canada student loan forgiveness program for family doctors and nurses.
- The StudentAidBC program is available for many eligible professions. For a list of professions and eligibility requirements, visit the BC loan forgiveness program.