Bethany Care Society Collective Agreement 2020-2024

Article 26: Employee Benefit Plans

1. The Employer shall provide the following group plans for which participation is compulsory for eligible Employees:
   1. SunLife Supplementary Benefits Plan, or equivalent, which provides eighty percent (80%) direct payment provision for eligible physician or dentist prescribed medication;
   2. Group benefits plans, inclusive of:
      1. Group Life Insurance (Basic);
      2. Accidental Death and Dismemberment (Basic);
      3. Short Term Disability (income replacement for a period of up to one hundred and twenty (120) working days during a qualifying disability equal to sixty-six point six seven percent (66.67%) of basic weekly earnings to the established maximum following a seven (7) day elimination period where applicable.  The Short-Term Disability shall become effective on the first (1st) working day following the expiry of sick leave credits in the case of absence due to injury or hospitalization. In the particular case of Employees who have insufficient sick leave credits to satisfy the seven (7) calendar day elimination period, the Short Term Disability shall commence on the eighth (8th) day following the commencement of non-hospitalized sickness).
      4. Long Term Disability (income replacement during a qualifying disability equal to sixty-six point six seven percent (66.67%) of basic monthly earnings to the established maximum following a one hundred and twenty (120) working day elimination period).
      5. SunLife Dental Plan, or equivalent, including services mainly diagnostic and preventive in nature; which plan provides eighty percent (80%) reimbursement of eligible dental expenses, eighty percent (80%) of eligible Basic Services, fifty percent (50%) of eligible Extensive Services, and fifty percent (50%) of eligible Orthodontic Services, in accordance with the current Alberta Blue Cross or equivalent, Usual and Customary Dental Fee Guide.
      6. A maximum annual reimbursement of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) per insured person per benefit year shall apply to extensive services.  Orthodontic services shall be subject to a lifetime maximum reimbursement of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) per insured person.
   3. E.I. Sub Plan
      At the Employer's option an "EI SUB Plan" to supplement an eligible Employee's Employment Insurance to meet the Employer's obligation to provide disability payments during the valid health-related period for being absent from work due to pregnancy. The valid health-related period is one for which they have the medical substantiation required.
2. The premium costs shall be shared seventy-five percent (75%) by the Employer and twenty-five percent (25%) by the Employee.
   
   The Employer will implement coverage for new Employees when:
   1. Full-time Employees have successfully completed three (3) full continuous months of work.
   2. Part-time Employees have successfully completed three (3) full continuous months of work. Part-time Employees must be regularly scheduled to work on average at least fifteen (15) hours per week to remain eligible.
   3. Temporary Employees must be hired to work in a position for more than six (6) months and must be regularly scheduled to work on average at least fifteen (15) hours per week to remain eligible.
3. The Employer will provide one copy of each of the Benefit Plans to the Union and shall advise the Union of all premium rate changes.
4. The Employer shall distribute to all Employees brochures and other relevant information concerning the above plans upon hiring and when there are changes to the plan.  Such notice of changes will also include the Union.