Who Can Join HOOPP?

Full-time employees

If your employer participates in HOOPP and you are considered a full-time employee, joining HOOPP is a condition of your employment. You'll join the Plan as soon as you are hired.

If you move from part-time to full-time work, and you are not already a HOOPP member you must join immediately.

Week-end workers

"Weekend workers," as defined in the March 2000 collective agreement between the Ontario Nurses' Association and Ontario Hospital Association, are considered full-time employees for HOOPP purposes.

Contract workers

If you are on a contract and are interested in joining HOOPP, please contact your employer.

Part-time and casual employees

Joining HOOPP is optional for part-time and casual employees.

If you are a part-time or casual employee, you can join HOOPP when, in the preceding calendar year, you have:

• worked a minimum of 700 hours or
• earned at least 35 per cent of the year's maximum pensionable earnings (YMPE)

To meet the minimum eligibility requirements, you can add together your hours or earnings from more than one HOOPP employer.

Once you've met the hours or earnings requirements, you can join HOOPP at any time in the next calendar year. If you don't become a member in that year, you must re-qualify before you can join. If you think you've met the requirements, and didn't get the opportunity to join, let your employer know.

While joining the Plan is usually optional for part-timers, you cannot opt out once you're a member.

Remaining a member

Once you've joined HOOPP, there are no minimum hours or earnings that must be met to continue your membership from year to year.