Bethany Care Society Collective Agreement 2020-2024

Article 23: Employee Development

1. The Parties to this Collective Agreement recognize the desirability and value of continuing education for Employees and that the responsibility for continuing education, including learning opportunities and in-service programs, lies not only with the Employer but also with the Employee.
2. The provision of learning opportunities for Employees will be determined by the Employer in consideration of financial resources and other criteria determined by the Employer.   The Supervisor and the Employee will select learning opportunities based upon the Employee’s learning plan.
3. The Employer reserves the right to identify specific in-service sessions as being compulsory for Employees and those required to attend such sessions shall be paid at their applicable rate of pay.  
4. Employees who, with prior approval of their Supervisor, attend in-service programs which are not identified as compulsory by the Employer shall suffer no loss of regular earnings for attending such programs.
5. Employees who, with prior approval of their Manager, attend educational programs which are not offered by the Employer shall suffer no loss of regular earnings for attending such programs.
6. 1. Professional Development leave is per calendar year and is not cumulative from year to year;
   2. Regular full-time Employees as of January 01 each calendar year shall be entitled to a maximum of thirty-one (31) professional development non-cumulative hours without loss of pay;
   3. Regular part-time Employees as of January 01 each calendar year whose full time equivalent (FTE) is zero point five (0.5) or greater shall be entitled to a maximum of thirty-one (31) non-cumulative hours without loss of pay prorated based on their FTE.
   4. Application for time off with pay for Professional Development shall be made in writing, to the Employer as early as possible.