Graduate Handbook - Faculty of Health Sciences - McMaster ...

Job Hazard Analysis: All employees (post-docs, technicians, casual and summer employment) working
in a lab setting must complete a JHA form. The JHA must be completed between the employee and their
supervisor and mailed to EOHSS. A copy must be submitted to Jodi Biro in the main office (HSC-4N59).
JHA instructions and login: http://www.mcmaster.ca/workwell/
Additional training may be required based on your duties (autoclave, CAF orientation, radio-isotopes,
TDG, etc.) and lab site-specific training (centrifuge, fermenter, French press, etc.). Please see your lab
safety rep or supervisor.
PAYROLL INFORMATION
(http://graduate.mcmaster.ca/payment-services/payroll-information)
Stipend: A minimum stipend is approved each year by our Department Chair. The 2013-2014 support
for MSc students is $20,300.00/year and $23,500.00/year for PhD students. Students can expect
minimum support from their supervisors for either two years (MSc students) or four years (PhD students).
There is no guarantee of financial support after these respective periods. Salaries of students who
hold external or internal scholarships will be adjusted according to our Department ”Graduate Stipend
Rates” listed on our website: http://www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/biochem/graduate/financial.html.
Direct Deposit – IS MANDATORY
Monthly pays will be deposited directly into your bank account. A monthly "Statement of Earnings" slip
showing details of your payment will be inserted into your lab mailbox located in HSC-4N59. It is
imperative you complete the Employee Deposit Information form available on the School of Graduate
Studies website, attach a void cheque and mail to the School of Graduate Studies (GH-212) upon your
arrival. Please arrange this immediately as failure to do so may result in considerable delay in receiving
your pay.
Payday: Payday for graduate students is the last Thursday of every month, except December’s pay
will be deposited on the 12 th . All teaching assistantship and scholarship support is dependent upon
continuous full-time registration in good standing.
CALCULATION OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS - Please read carefully
All employment income (TA and/or RA in lieu of TA) you are to receive will be paid to you when the work
is scheduled to be done, normally from September to April. External scholarships (ie. NSERC, SSHRC,
OGS, CIHR Masters) will be paid out one twelfth per month. Department, Graduate and Research
scholarships will be paid out in such a way that you will receive approximately equal monthly payments
over the academic year (September - August). Entrance scholarships will be paid out monthly over the
first term. Tuition Bursary payments will be paid out according to how the tuition is to be deducted (ie.
Tuition deducted over 8 months - bursary will be paid over 8 months, tuition deducted over 12 months -
bursary will be paid out over 12 months). Incidental Fees ($821.88) and UHIP for Visa Students ($684)
will ALL be deducted in September. Please Note: If you are receiving department and/or graduate
and/or research monies during the academic year, we will attempt to pay you a larger amount in
September (or the first month you receive payment) to accommodate the Incidental Fees.
Social Insurance Number (SIN): Students employed as Teaching Assistants require a Social Insurance
Number. This is a nine-digit number required by law as an administrative number for authorized federal
programs, notably Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan and Income Tax. A SIN card is
compulsory in Canada to receive government benefits. Please refer to the following website to find a
Service Canada Centre near you and to obtain other information you require before you apply:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca./eng/sc/sin. Required documents: passport, study permit, and a letter
confirming employment (see Lorraine Curtis, Operations Manager, HSC-4N59).
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