Classes could look different next year due to Humber’s new early retirement program

Jan 26, 2023 | Campus News, News

Classrooms at Humber may look a little different next year as long-serving faculty are being encouraged to consider early retirement.

“If someone was already thinking of retiring, this is an important deal to consider,” the president of the local Humber faculty union, Milos Vasic said. “These employees are being offered extra money they would have never had.”

Vasic explained that out of 679 full-time staff, well over 100 are at the age when they can retire on a full pension.

This means that one out of seven professors might no longer be in the classroom in the fall term, if they chose to retire early.

Humber sent letters to eligible staff members earlier this month. To qualify, they must be at least 60-years old with 20 years of pensionable services, or 65 years of age with 10 years of continuous full-time service at Humber.

Heather Black, Humber’s director of Human Resources, explains the program is not only good for retiring professors but will also create new opportunities for younger faculty.

“This program is being offered as a benefit to Humber’s long service employees who are eligible and interested in retiring while also providing new opportunities for others interested in careers at Humber,” Black said.

She explains that this program is a one-time offer and the school has no plans to offer it again in the future.

Vasic says the union while the union didn’t develop the program, it fully supports the initiative.

“Those who want to take the incentive have until the end of March 2023 to finalize the paperwork,” he said.