Associated Ambulance & Services (Whitecourt) Ltd., Collective Agreement 2020-2025

Article 17: Sick Leave

1.  
   1. Sick leave is provided by the Employer for any illness, quarantine by a Medical Officer, or because of an accident for which compensation is not payable under The Workers’ Compensation Act.
   2. The Employer recognizes that alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness, are illnesses which can respond to therapy and treatment, and that absence from work due to such therapy shall be considered sick leave.
2. An Employee shall be allowed a credit for sick leave computed from the date of employment at the rate of one (1) day for each full month of employment up to a maximum credit of fourteen (14) days.
3.  
   1. An Employee granted sick leave shall be paid for the period of such leave at their basic rate of pay, and the number of hours thus paid shall be deducted from their accumulated sick leave credits up to the total amount of the Employee’s accumulated credits at the time sick leave commenced.
   2. When an Employee becomes ill during a shift, all worked hours shall be paid. The Employee shall receive sick leave credits for the remaining hours of the shift in accordance with Article 17.03.
   3. When an Employee becomes ill shortly before or during their on-call period the Employer may request satisfactory proof of illness.
4. Subject to the requirement of the benefit provider, the eligibility for Short Term Benefits will be no less than (5) five calendar days.
5. In the event that a Short-Term Disability claim is denied despite the sick  leave being supported by a Physician; the Employee shall be credited sick time for up to the maximum available within the Employee’s sick bank as per Article 17.02.
6. Employees may be required to submit proof satisfactory to the Employer of any illness, non-occupational accident, quarantine or for valid reasons. Such reason shall be explained to the Employee at the time of the request. Such request shall be made as soon as reasonable after being notified of the illness.  The Employer shall be responsible to reimburse the cost of such proof of illness.
7. When an Employee has accrued the maximum sick leave credit of fourteen (14) days, they shall no longer accrue sick leave credits until such time as their total accumulation is reduced below the maximum.  At that time they shall recommence accumulating sick leave credits up to the maximum.
8.  
   1. Sick leave pay shall not be granted during any unpaid leave of absence, any period for which the Employee is entitled to short or long term disability coverage.  Sick leave pay shall be granted for complications which may arise from a pregnancy before and after completion of maternity leave.
   2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 17.06(a), should an Employee demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Employer that the Employee was admitted to hospital as an “in patient,” during the course of their vacation, they shall be considered to be on sick leave for the period of hospitalization and subsequent period of recovery provided they notify their Employer upon return from vacation and provides satisfactory proof of their hospitalization. Vacation time not taken as a result of such stay in the hospital shall be rescheduled to a mutually agreeable time.
   3. Should an Employee become eligible for short term or long term disability benefit and such leave encroaches upon the Employee’s scheduled vacation, the Employee’s vacation shall be rescheduled at a later mutually agreeable time.
9. Upon termination of employment or transfer to casual status, all sick leave credits shall be cancelled and no payment shall be due.
10. Sick leave credits shall not accrue during periods of illness, injury, and/or unpaid leaves of absence in excess of thirty (30) days.
11. 1. Employees are encouraged to schedule routine personal medical appointments outside of working hours. When this is not possible, the Employee shall obtain prior authorization at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the appointment. Such request shall be granted when operationally feasible. Such absence shall be charged against their accumulated sick leave credits.
    2. When an Employee must attend a non-routine, unforeseen and emergent qualifying appointment which include dental, chiropractic, or medical appointments which can’t be booked on personal time, the Employee shall endeavor to obtain prior authorization at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the appointment. Requests for authorization to attend a qualifying appointment less than twenty-four (24) hours’ notice shall not be unreasonably denied.
       
       Such absence shall be neither charged against their accumulated sick leave, nor shall they suffer any loss of income provided such absence does not exceed two (2) hours during one (1) workday. If the absence is longer than two (2) hours, the whole period of absence shall be charged against their accumulated sick leave. 
       
       Employees may be required to submit satisfactory proof of such appointment. Where the Employee must pay a fee for such proof, the full fee shall be reimbursed by the Employer.  
       
       Personal Leave
        
12. Employees shall be entitled to two (2) days per calendar year.
13. Employees shall request such days as far in advance as possible. These days are for the purpose of attending to personal matters and family responsibilities, including, but not limited to attending appointments with family members.
    
    In these circumstances, the Employer shall approve Personal Leave requests to the extent that operational requirements permit. Such requests shall not be unreasonably denied. Where approval is denied, the Employer will respond in writing and reasons shall be given.
    Any request for leave that exceed what is available in the Employee sick bank shall be subject to the provisions of Article 20.01.
    
    Personal Leave shall not be used for time off due to illness or workplace injuries. The extension of time off may be permitted if mutually agreed between the Employee and Employer. Requests for Personal Leave shall not be unreasonably denied, subject to operational requirements.