Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority Collective Agreement 2024-2026

Article 20: Leaves of Absence

1. General Policies Covering Leaves of Absence
   1. An application for leave of absence shall be made, in writing, to the Employer as early as possible.  The application shall indicate the desired dates for departure and return from the leave of absence.  The Employer will notify Employees within ten (10) business days from receipt of their application, as to the status of their request.
   2. An Employee who has been granted leave of absence of any kind and who overstays such leave without permission of the Employer shall be deemed to have terminated their employment unless a justifiable reason can be established by the Employee.
   3. Except as provided in Article 20.01(d), where an Employee is granted a leave of absence of more than a month’s duration, and that Employee is covered by any or all of the plans specified in Article 19, that Employee may, subject to the Insurer’s requirements, make prior arrangement for the prepayment by the Employee of both the Employer and Employee share of the full premiums for the applicable plans at least one (1) pay period in advance.  The time limits as provided for in this Article may be waived in extenuating circumstances.
   4. For the portion of Maternity Leave during which an Employee has a valid health-related reason for being absent from work and who is in receipt of sick leave, STD or LTD, benefit plan premium payments shall be administered in the same fashion as an Employee absent due to illness.
   5. The Employee shall continue to accrue sick leave and vacation entitlement during the leave of absence to the end of the month in which the leave begins.
   6. Leave of absence with or without pay may be granted to an Employee at the discretion of the Employer and the Employee shall not work for gain during the period of leave of absence except with the express consent of the Employer.  Where approval is denied, the Employer will respond in writing and reasons shall be given.
2. Union Business
   1. Provided the regular operations of the Employer will permit, Employees may, upon not less than seven (7) calendar days’ notice, be granted a leave of absence with pay, to attend business meetings, schools, seminars and conventions in connection with Union affairs.
   2. A maximum of three (3) representatives of the Union shall be granted time off with pay in order to participate in Collective Bargaining with the Employer or its Bargaining Agent.
   3. The local representative or their alternate shall, subject to operational requirements, be allowed time away from assigned duties without loss of regular pay to carry out their functions as provided in this Collective Agreement.  The local representative shall obtain permission for such leave from the Supervisor or their designate.
   4. Members of the Board of Directors of the Union shall be granted a leave of absence with pay to attend Union business. Such member shall provide the Employer with such request in writing with as much advance notice as possible.
   5. The President and Vice President of the Union shall be granted leave with pay as required to attend to Union business, provided reasonable notice is given.  Upon notification from the Union to the Employer, the parties shall meet and negotiate specific letters of understanding for leaves of absence.
   6. Subject to operational requirements, time off granted in accordance with Article 20.02 (a)(b)(c)(d) and (e) shall be with pay, and the Union agrees to reimburse the Employer for the total cost of the absence plus a fifteen percent (15%) administration fee.
3. Maternity Leave and Parental Leave
   The Employer shall provide Maternity Leave and Parental Leave pursuant to and as required by the Alberta Employment Standards Code.
4. Educational Leave
   1. The parties to this Collective Agreement recognize the value of continuing education for each Employee and recognize that continuing education may be deemed necessary for Employees covered by this Collective Agreement and recognize that the responsibility for such continuing education lies not only with the individual but also with the Employer.
   2. Full-Time/Part-Time Employees may apply for “Leaves of Absence/Education Leave”. All leave of Absence/Education leave must be applied for forty five (45) days prior to the start date where possible and approved by the Employer as soon as possible. The Employer shall not act unreasonably when denying requested Leaves of Absence / Education Leave.
   3. Employees must send a letter of intent to return to work sixty (60) days prior to return date. If no letter is received, the Employer will consider this position to be open and will refill the position without notice to the Employee.
   4. While on educational leave without pay,
      1. an Employee shall not accrue sick leave or vacation credits unless such leave is less than thirty (30) days;
      2. an Employee’s anniversary date for salary increment purposes shall not change unless the duration of the leave exceeds twelve (12) months, in which case the anniversary date shall be delayed by the amount of time by which the leave exceeds twelve (12) months, and the newly established anniversary date shall prevail thereafter.
      3. An Employee absent on approved education leave shall be reinstated by the Employer in the same position and classification held by them immediately prior to taking such leave.
   5. During an Employee’s leave of absence, the Employee may work as a Casual Employee with the Employer without adversely affecting the Employee’s reinstatement to the position from which the Employee is on leave up to the maximum threshold allowed by the Pension Plan without affecting their Pension Plan.
5. Critical Illness and Bereavement Leave
   1. A temporary leave of absence, with no loss of pay and benefits, necessitated at the time of a critical illness requiring hospitalization or emergency medical treatment, or death shall be granted by the Employer as follows:
      1. Involving Immediate Family Members, for a period not exceeding five (5) consecutive scheduled workdays. Immediate Family Members of the Employee is defined as spouse (including common law), parent, brother, sister, parent-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, son, daughter, grandparent, grandchild or other legal dependants.
      2. Involving members of the extended family of the Employee or spouse, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece or a member of the Employee’s household for a period not exceed three (3) consecutive calendar days.
   2. In the event of the death of another relative or friend, the Employer may grant time off without pay to attend the funeral service, memorial service or celebration of life.
   3. The Employer may require a medical certificate for critical illness.
6. Military Leave
   The Employer shall provide reservist leave pursuant to and as required by the Alberta Employment Standards.

7. Employees are entitled to any other leaves of absence as may be required by the Employment Standards Code as follows:

   (i) Personal and Family Responsibility Leave
   (ii) Domestic Violence Leave
   (iii) Citizenship Ceremony Leave
   (iv) Compassionate Care Leave
   (v) Long Term Illness and Injury Leave
   (vi) Death or Disappearance of Child Leave

8. Additional leaves of absence may be granted at the discretion of the Employer.
9. Domestic Violence Leave
   1. An Employee who has been subjected to domestic violence may require time off from work to address the situation and shall be entitled to leave of absence without pay for of up to ten (10) days per calendar year.
   2. An Employee may access applicable leaves of absence or banks such as sick leave, personal leave, court appearance leave, or general leave without pay.
   3. Personal information concerning domestic violence shall be kept confidential by the Employer.
10. Personal Leave
    1. Benefit eligible Regular Employees shall be entitled to Personal Leave days each year, from January 1st through December 31st. 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. Requests for Personal Leave shall not be unreasonably denied.
    2. Benefit eligible Employees shall be entitled to two (2) personal days of twelve (12) hours.
    3. Personal Leave days are granted per incident as a full day.
    4. Any Personal Leave days not used by December 31st of each year shall not be carried over or paid out on termination of employment.
    5. Benefit Eligible Employees hired after January 1st of each year shall not receive Personal Leave days until January 1st of the following year.