Prairie Emergency Medical Services Inc. Collective Agreement 2020-2025

Article 21: 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 21.01(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 33, that Employee may, subject to the Insurer’s requirements, make prior arrangement for the prepayment 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.
   7. Leave of absence requests shall not be unreasonably denied. When    denied and upon request by the Employee, a written explanation shall be provided.
   8. An Employee who has been on any extended Leave of Absence for a period of six months or longer, shall be provided with a minimum of one (1) tour for re- orientation, and re-familiarization.   
2. Personal Leave
   1. All Regular Full-time and Temporary Full-time Employees shall receive personal leave to deal with issues of an urgent nature within their family structure.
   2. Personal leave is earned at a rate of ten (10) hours for every six hundred and eight (608) hours worked (excluding stat and overtime) to a maximum of thirty (30) hours per year. Personal leave hours can accrue and will be held in bank.
   3. Personal Leave days are granted per incident as a full shift.
   4. In the event that an appointment of an Employee’s family structure requires an Employee to be absent from work, that Employee will first utilize available Personal days. If no Personal days are available sick leave credits can be utilized by an Employee.
3. Union Business
   1. Insofar as the regular operation of the Employer will permit, Employees may, upon not less than fourteen (14) calendar days’ notice, be granted a leave of absence with pay, to attend business meetings, schools, seminars and conventions in connection with Union business.
   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 unit 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 unit representative shall obtain permission for such leave from the Employer or their designate.
   4. Subject to operational requirements, time off granted in accordance with (a), (b) and (c) above shall be with pay, and the Union agrees to reimburse the Employer for actual salary paid to the Employee while on leave plus an administrative charge of seventeen percent (17%).
4. Maternity Leave
   1. An Employee who has completed ninety (90) days of employment shall, upon their written request, be granted Maternity Leave to become effective thirteen (13) weeks immediately preceding the expected date of delivery or such shorter period as may be requested by the Employee, provided that they commence Maternity Leave no later than the date of delivery. Maternity Leave shall be without pay and benefits except for the portion of Maternity Leave during which the Employee has a valid health-related reason for being absent from work and is also in receipt of sick leave, STD or LTD. Maternity Leave shall not exceed sixteen (16) weeks.
   2. A pregnant Employee whose continued employment in their position may be hazardous to themselves or to their unborn child, in the written opinion of their physician or a registered midwife, may request a transfer to a more suitable position if one is available. Where no suitable position is available, the Employee may request Maternity Leave as provided by Article 21.06(a) if the Employee is eligible for such leave. In the event that such Maternity Leave must commence in the early stages of pregnancy which results in the need for an absence from work longer than eighteen (18) months, the Employee may request further leave without pay as provided by Article 21.01.
5. Parental Leave
   1. A parent-to-be who has completed ninety (90) days of employment shall, upon their written request, be eligible for a leave of absence without pay and benefits for a period up to sixty-two (62) weeks for parenting duties following the birth of a child.
   2. An Employee who has ninety (90) days of employment shall be granted leave of absence without pay and benefits for a period of up to sixty-two (62) weeks for the purpose of adopting a child provided that:
      1. they make a written request for such leave at the time the application for adoption is approved and keeps the Employer advised of the status of such application; and
      2. they provide the Employer with at least one (1) days notice that such leave is to commence.
   3. Parental Leave shall end seventy-eight (78) weeks from the birth of the child or date of adoption, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Employer and the Employee.
   4. An Employee absent on Parental Leave shall endeavor to provide the Employer with twelve (12) weeks written advance notice of their readiness to return to work but in any event shall provide four (4) weeks written notice, following which the Employer will reinstate them in the same position held by them immediately prior to taking such leave and at the same step in the salary scale or provide them with alternate work of a comparable nature at not less than the same step in the salary scale and other benefit that accrued to them up to the date they commenced the leave.
6. Paternity and Adoptive Paternity Leave
   Paternity leave of at least a minimum of four (4) consecutive working days with pay may be granted upon the written request of an Employee to enable such Employee to attend to matters directly related to the birth or adoption of their child. In extenuating circumstances, additional paternity leave may be granted.
7. Educational Leave
   An Employee may request an educational leave with or without pay. All educational leave granted with pay by the Employer must demonstrate a benefit to the organization.
   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. A paid leave of absence and/or reasonable expenses may be granted to an Employee at the discretion of the Employer to enable the Employee to participate in education programs.
   3. Should the Employer direct an Employee to participate in a specific program, such Employee shall be compensated in accordance with the following:
      1. For program attendance on regularly scheduled working days, the Employee shall suffer no loss of regular earnings.
      2. For hours in attendance at such program on regularly scheduled days off, the Employee shall be paid at their Basic Rate of Pay to a maximum of twelve (12) hours per day.
      3. The Employer will pay the cost of the course including tuition fees, reasonable travel and subsistence expenses subject to prior approval.
   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 or be provided with alternate work of a comparable nature.
8. Bereavement Leave
   1. Bereavement leave with pay of:
      1. seven (7) consecutive calendar days shall be granted in the event of the death of a member of the Employee’s immediate family.   Upon request, the Employee may be granted additional leave of absence without pay. Immediate family of the Employee is defined as spouse, parent, child, brother, sister, fiancé. Step-parent, step- children, step-brother and step-sister shall be considered as members of the Employee’s immediate family. “Spouse” shall include common-law or same sex relationship and shall be deemed to mean a person who resided with the Employee or who was held out publicly as their spouse for a period of at least one year before the death;
      2. seven (7) consecutive calendar days shall be granted in the event of the death of the following members of the Employee’s family (i.e.: mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in- law, sister-in-law, legal guardian, grandparent, and grandchild).
   2. Bereavement Leave shall be extended by two (2) additional days if travel out of province is necessary for the purpose of attending the funeral.
   3. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 21.08 (a) and (b), where special circumstances exist, an Employee may request that bereavement leave be divided into two periods. Such request is subject to the approval of the Employer. In no circumstances however shall an Employee be eligible for more days off with pay than they would have been eligible to receive had bereavement leave been taken in one undivided period.
   4. In the event of the death of another relative or friend, the Employer may grant time off with pay to attend the funeral service.
9. Professional Development Leave
   1. Upon written application to the Employer, a Regular Employee may request a leave of absence without pay for reasons of professional development which the Employer views as beneficial to the organization. A Regular Employee shall be eligible for consideration of professional development leave after completing two (2) years of continuous full-time employment. Such leave shall not exceed twelve (12) consecutive calendar months.
   2. Where a Regular Employee has received a professional development leave, such a Regular Employee will not be eligible for another professional development leave until they have completed three (3) consecutive years of full-time employment from the date they returned from the previous professional development leave.
   3. During such professional leave, the Employee shall be accountable for both Employer and Employee portions of all benefits should the Employee choose to continue their benefits. Sick time and vacation shall not be accrued during the approved professional leave of absence.
   4. An Employee absent on approved professional development leave shall be reinstated by the Employer in the same position and classification held by them immediately prior to taking such leave or be provided with alternate work of a comparable nature.
10. Personal Development Leave
    1. Upon written application to the Employer, a Regular Employee considering a career change may request a leave of absence without pay for reasons of personal development. A Regular Employee shall be eligible for consideration of personal development leave after completing five (5) years of continuous full-time employment. Such leave shall not exceed twelve (12) consecutive calendar months.
    2. At least fourteen (14) days prior to the Employee’s return from the personal development leave, the Employee shall meet with the Employer to discuss whether the Employee wishes to change careers or remain with the Employer. Pending the Employee’s decision to remain with the Employer, the Employee shall be reinstated by the Employer in the same position and classification held by them immediately prior to taking such leave or be provided with alternate work of a comparable nature.
    3. Where a Regular Employee has received a personal development leave, such a Regular Employee will not be eligible for another personal development leave.
    4. During the personal development leave, the Employee shall not accrue seniority, sick time or vacation.
11. Compassionate Care Leave
    1. An Employee who has completed at least ninety (90) days of employment, shall be entitled to a leave of absence without pay but with benefits at the normal cost sharing, for a period of twenty-seven (27) weeks to care for a qualified relative with a serious medical condition and who is at significant risk of death within twenty-six (26) weeks from the commencement of the leave.
    2. Qualified relative for compassionate care leave means a person in a relationship to the Employee as designated in the Alberta Employment Standards Code.
    3. At the request of the Employee, compassionate care leave may be taken in one (1) week increments.
    4. Where possible, an Employee shall apply for compassionate leave at least two (2) weeks in advance of the commencement of the leave and shall advise the Employer.
12. Military Leave
    Upon application by an Employee, the Employer shall grant a leave of absence for military leave. Such leave of absence shall be in accordance with the Government of Canada regulations and any regulations passed by the Employer relative to RRSP and group insurance contributions.
13. Leave for Public Office
    1. The Employer recognizes the right of an Employee to participate in public affairs. Therefore, upon written request, the Employer shall allow a leave of absence without pay to permit them to fulfill the duties of that office.
    2. Regular employees who are elected to public office shall be allowed a leave of absence without pay for a period of time not to exceed four (4) years.
    3. An Employee who has been on public office leave shall be reinstated by the Employer in the same position and classification held by them immediately prior to taking such leave or be provided with alternate work of a comparable nature.
14. Except as described above, Employees are eligible for any leaves as set out in the Alberta Employment Standards Code. Employees are eligible for these leaves after ninety (90) days of employment. Leaves of Absence are without pay. The Employer may require proof of eligibility for the leaves.

(i) Personal and Family Responsibility Leave – up to five (5) days for personal illness, sickness or care of immediate family member.

(ii) Long-term illness and injury leave – up to sixteen (16) weeks for personal illness or injury.

(iii) Domestic Violence Leave – up to ten (10) days for addressing the situation of domestic violence.

(iv) Citizenship Ceremony Leave – up to one half (1/2) day to attend a Citizenship Ceremony when receiving Citizenship.

(v) Death or Disappearance of a Child – when a child of the Employee dies (up to 104 weeks) or disappears (up to 52 weeks) as a result of probable criminal act.