Foothills Regional Emergency Services Commission Collective Agreement 2023-2025

Article 34: Employee Benefit Plans

1. The Employer shall continue the following group plans for all eligible Employees where such plans are currently in effect or shall implement the following group plans where enrollments and other requirements of the insurer have been met.
   
   Prepaid Health Benefits
   1. The Employer shall provide the following group plans to eligible employees:
      1. Alberta Municipal Employee Benefits Service
      2. Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, as amended or replaced.
   2. The Alberta Municipal Employee Benefits Plan be paid seventy five percent (75%) by the employer includes:
      1. Group Life Insurance - 2 times basic annual salary, minimum coverage is $10,000 and maximum is $250,000.
      2. Accidental Death and Dismemberment - 2 times basic annual salary for accidental death, accidental dismemberment will be paid according to the AMEBS schedule.
      3. Dependent Life Insurance
         
         Spouse                                  -           $ 5,000
         Dependent Children             -           $ 2,000
         
         (a) Short Term Disability (weekly indemnity) - income replacement for a period of up to seventeen (17) weeks in the event that a prolonged illness or injury prevents an employee from working, provided at 66 2/3 % of weekly pre-disability earnings. 
         
         (b) Long Term Disability (income replacement during a qualifying disability equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of basic monthly earnings to the established maximum following a one hundred and twenty (120) working day elimination period); 
          
      4. Extended Health Benefits - Reimbursed at (80%).
      5. Dental Care - Reimbursed at one hundred percent (100%) for Basic and Diagnostic Services. Reimbursed at fifty percent (50%) for Major Restorative and Orthodontics.  Orthodontics are only covered for dependent children.  Maximum of $2000 per insured per calendar year with the exception of orthodontics for which there is a lifetime maximum of $2000. 

      6. Vision Care – Vision care is designed to assist insured employee with expenses incurred for prescription eyewear. Vision care coverage will cover the following expenses up to the benefit maximum of $400.

         (a) A complete pair of eyeglasses and/or prescribed contact lenses during any period of two years for persons 18 years or over, or one year for those under 18 years of age.
         
         (b) Laser eye surgery

   3. Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan premiums will also be paid seventy five percent (75%) by the employer
2. Where the benefits specified in Article 34.01 are provided through insurance obtained by the Employer, the administration of such plans shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable benefits policies or contracts.
3. When an Employee is in receipt of Weekly Indemnity the Employer agrees to pay one hundred per cent (100%) of health benefits premiums.
4. An Employee shall cease to earn sick leave and vacation credits while on STD or LTD.
5. 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.
6. 1. Prepaid Health Benefits shall be provided to:
      1. a regular full-time employee
      2. regular employees scheduled to work a minimum 0.5 F.T.E. averaged over one (1) complete cycle of the shift schedule.
      3. a temporary employee who is hired to work for a 0.5 F.T.E. or greater for a position of six (6) months duration or longer.
   2. Temporary employees hired for a position of less than six (6) months duration, and casual employees, are not eligible to participate in the Employee Benefits Plan. However, such individuals covered by the Collective Agreement who were enrolled for such benefits on the day prior to the commencement date of this Collective Agreement shall not have benefits discontinued solely due to the application of this provision. 
7. 1. The Employer shall provide one copy of each of the plans to the Health Sciences Association of Alberta.
   2. The Employer shall advise, as applicable, the Union of all premium rate changes pursuant to Article 34.
8. Flexible Health Benefits Spending Account
   1. A Flexible Health Benefits Spending Account shall be implemented for all Employees eligible for benefits in accordance with Article 34.06(a)(i) and 34.06(a)(ii).
   2. The following amounts per each regular full-time Employee shall be allocated by the Employer to a Flexible Health Benefit Spending Account for each eligible Employee effective January 1 of each calendar year as follows:
      
      January 1, 2023, One thousand seven hundred dollars ($1,700).
      
      January 1, 2024, One thousand eight hundred dollars ($1,800).
      
      January 1, 2025, One thousand nine hundred ($1,900).
       
   3. A casual employee shall be eligible for the Flexible Health Benefits Spending Account per 34.08(b) after one (1) year of employment, providing the employee has worked an average of 21 hours per week or 1092 hours in the previous calendar year. Casual employees that meet the required weekly or annual hours as listed herein shall be entitled to 50% of Flexible Health Benefits Spending Account benefit as provided for in 34.08(b).
   4. This Flexible Health Spending Account shall be provided to regular part-time Employees on a pro-rated basis, based on their annualized regularly scheduled hours of work as at January 1 of each calendar year.
   5. Any unused allocation in an Employee's Flexible Health Benefit Spending Account as of December 31 of each year shall not be carried forward to the next calendar year.
   6. The Flexible Health Benefit Spending Account may be utilized by Employees for the purposes of receiving reimbursement for:
      1. health and dental expenses that are eligible medical expenses in accordance with the Income Tax Act and are not covered by the benefit plans specified in Article 34.01(b)(iv) and 34.01(b)(v) or;
      2. fitness and wellness expenses to include expenditure for dependent children, spouses and common law partners.
   7. Where the Employer chooses to contract with an insurer for the administration of the Flexible Health Benefit Spending Account, the administration of the Account shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable contract.
   8. The Flexible Health Benefit Spending Account shall be implemented and administered in accordance with the Income Tax Act and applicable Regulations in effect at the time of implementation and during the course of operation of the Flexible Health Benefit Spending Account.
9. Professional Certification Fees 
   The employer shall provide each employee, (including casuals) upon production of a receipt, with a reimbursement of professional fees for Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD), Emergency Fire Dispatch Quality Assurance (EFDQ), and Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certifications once every two years.
10. Personal Professional Development
    Effective January 1, 2011 the employer shall provide each employee with reimbursement of up to $200 per year to cover tuition or registration costs associated with a course or program. The course or program is subject to approval however it need not be related to employment with FRESC. Reimbursement will be made on proof of successful completion of the course or program.