Retention and Recruitment Bonus
May 2024
The eligibility criteria for the program have changed and each consortia is adopting different rules and the application of the bonus is different in each area as well. Drivers must still have a valid driver’s license to drive a school bus and must be employed as a school bus driver to be eligible. But much has changed – SBO is no longer involved in the administration of the program.
If you are a driver and need an update on the R&R bonus, please speak to your operator as each school board/transportation consortia have different rules. The service provider (Deloitte) is no longer involved in the program either.
Please note the following:
- There are no more exception application forms for drivers. This means if a driver has a legitimate reason for missing work, such as an illness or injury, they still may not be eligible for the bonus. Each region is applying this rule differently.
- The payments are based upon routes, not individual drivers (most areas.)
- Some consortia are pro rating the bonus to a daily rate; drivers who show up and drive the assigned route receive the pro rated amount each pay.
- Some consortia are paying the bonus in installments of $800 for the September to December period and $1,200 for the January to June period. Others are keeping the same $1,000 and $1,000 for each pay period.
- Payroll deductions to cover EI, CPP, WSIB, etc., are being flowed through to operators.
- Drivers please note: deductions at source result in an overall lower amount being received by drivers when the bonus is paid out; but, once taxes are completed each year, reconciliation will occur. Drivers need to be made aware of this.
Please let us know if there are any issue that remain outstanding with the R&R – this is very important for our advocacy.
UPDATED DRP
Fall 2023
The Driver Retention Program (DRP) is being renamed the R&R program (Recruitment and Retention program) and rather than pay eligible drivers through a third party (Service Provider), the funding will be transferred from the Ministry of Education through to consortia to the operators and drivers. Details of when the funding will be transferred have not been announced yet. For more information on the new R&R program, please see the “B Memo” from the Ministry of Education found here.
PREVIOUS YEARS
2022/23 School year
Once again, eligible school bus drivers could receive up to two separate retention bonuses of $1,000 (less applicable taxes) for each term, based on continuous employment in each term. Eligibility criteria for bonus payments to school bus drivers, and all related claims and other DRP processes will essentially remain the same as in previous periods.
The DRP’s purpose is to enhance school bus driver recruitment and retention among school bus operators in the Province of Ontario. The Ontario School Bus Association (OSBA) is pleased to be administering this program (also referred to as the “DRP”) – an initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Education and other industry stakeholders.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the bonus payments, school bus drivers must meet the eligibility requirements including being employed by a school bus operator that provides to and from school student transportation services in Ontario for one or more of the prescribed Educational Organizations including student transportation consortia, school boards, school authorities and provincial and demonstration schools identified by the Ministry of Education which can be viewed at this link.
Click here to view: School Bus Driver Eligibility Criteria
Click here to view: School Bus Driver Consent Form
Click here to view: Education Organizations
BONUS PAYMENTS
Bonuses (less applicable taxes) will be paid directly to eligible school bus drivers. PLEASE NOTE: DRP bonus payments are not an entitlement based only on past employment as a school bus driver. The purpose and intent of the DRP, as designed by the Ontario Ministry of Education, is to reward school bus drivers for meeting the eligibility criteria, including continuous employment during a payment period. The bonus payments are a financial incentive to stay on the job during the payment period, and are not automatic payments earned only by working historically as a school bus driver. A cheque will be mailed to each eligible school bus driver via Canada Post from a “Service Provider” (payroll company) hired by the Ministry of Education. The Service Provider will also mail T4A’s via Canada Post directly to each driver. Individual school bus drivers do not need to sign-up or register for the bonus payments, but they must complete a consent form and provide the consent form to their school bus operator employer.
Eligible school bus operator employers that participate in this program, will collate and verify information about their school bus drivers in order to submit a claims submission document for bonus payments. A program guide, tools, templates and training has been provided to support school bus operator employers with their submissions.
Employers are aware of their eligible and non-eligible drivers and can advise of a driver’s status. As previously noted, bonus payments to drivers are payable approximately 5 months after the end of each school period, however this is not guaranteed and could change based on various circumstances. This allows time for school bus drivers to submit Exception Application Forms to their school bus operator employers if required, for school bus operators to complete all their paperwork regarding the claims submission process, and for DRP to complete its review of the claims submissions and Exception Application Forms for over 17,000 school bus drivers.
EXCEPTIONS
When the eligibility criteria were announced on May 1, 2018, a number of concerns were raised about the 95% attendance criteria. OSBA and ISBOA discussed those concerns with the Ministry of Education and industry stakeholders. As a result, an exception process was created to ensure more widespread inclusion under the DRP. The Ministry of Education and industry stakeholders want to ensure that the largest number of school bus drivers as possible receive the driver retention bonus while still fulfilling the objectives and the parameters of the Program. To achieve this goal, certain exceptions were permitted. A school bus driver who meets all of eligibility criteria #1 to #5 but does not meet the minimum percentage of days worked (95% attendance) may be eligible for an exception in order to qualify for a bonus payment.
To request an exception, a school bus driver must apply by completing, signing and submitting the Exception Application Form to their school bus operator employer. In order to be considered for an exception, school bus drivers MUST complete Parts 1 to 3 of this form and return it to their school bus operator employer. PLEASE NOTE: Exception Application Forms are not required for absences within the allowable 5% – it will be assumed that any absence described in an Exception Application Form is over and above the allowable days. Any Exception Application Form that is incomplete in ANY way, will be denied (including sections requiring boxes to be checked and details under “Please specify”)
Please note that the Exception Application Form for Periods #1 to #5 will NOT be accepted in Period #10. If any Period #1 to #5 Exception Application Forms are submitted in Period #10, they will be automatically denied and the driver will NOT receive a bonus payment.
Click here to view: Exception Application Form
T4A’s
T4A’s will be mailed to all school bus drivers who received a bonus payment. If a T4A has not been received, drivers MUST contact their employer to verify their mailing address is correct. Employers will forward any address changes and follow up with the DRP Call Centre.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Click here to view: Privacy Statement
Click here to view: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
DRIVERS – Please do not contact the DRP Call Centre regarding the following items – Please contact your school bus operator employer only:
- Whether or not you will receive a bonus payment.
- Individual driver eligibility/non-eligibility or about individual Exception Application Forms.
- Change of mailing address – your employer will forward to the DRP Call Centre.
- If you do not receive a cheque within 30 days of the end of a school term, and your employer has advised that you are eligible to receive one, please contact your employer as they must follow up with the DRP Call Centre.
The purpose of the DRP Call Centre is to provide general information about the DRP only. The Call Centre does not have individual driver information about eligibility.
To Contact the Driver Retention Program (DRP) Call Centre:
If you are a school bus driver:
Email Address – schoolbusdriver@deloitte.ca; Toll-free Number – 1-833-346-6177
If you are a school bus operator:
Email Address – schoolbusoperator@deloitte.ca; Toll-free Number – 1-833-715-7360