Stettler District Ambulance Association Collective Agreement 2023 - 2026

Article 17: Sick Leave

1.  
   1. Sick leave is provided by the Employer for any illness, quarantine by a Medical Officer, or because of an accident for which compensation is not payable under The Workers’ Compensation Act.
   2. The Employer recognizes that alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness, are illnesses which can respond to therapy and treatment, and that absence from work due to such therapy shall be considered sick leave.
2. When an Employee has completed their probationary period they shall be allowed a two hundred and sixteen (216) hour credit for sick leave and thereafter shall be allowed a credit for sick leave computed from the date of employment at the rate of eighteen (18) hours for each full month of employment up to a maximum credit of one thousand four hundred and forty (1440) hours, provided however, that an Employee shall not be entitled to apply sick leave credits prior to completion of their probationary period.
3. An Employee granted sick leave shall be paid for the period of such leave at their Basic Rate of Pay and the number of hours thus paid shall be deducted from their accumulated sick leave credits up to the total amount of the Employee’s accumulated credits at the time sick leave commenced.
4. Employees may be required to submit satisfactory proof to the Employer of any illness, non-occupational accident, or quarantine. Where the Employee must pay a fee for such proof, the full fee shall be reimbursed by the Employer.
5. When an Employee has accrued the maximum sick leave credit of one thousand four hundred and forty (1440) hours, they shall no longer accrue sick leave credits until such time as their total accumulation is reduced below the maximum. At that time they shall recommence accumulating sick leave credits up to the maximum.
6. Sick leave pay shall not be granted during any leave of absence. Sick leave pay shall be granted for complications which may arise from a pregnancy before and after completion of maternity leave as granted under Article 20.
7. If an Employee requires time off for the purpose of attending a dental, medical, or paramedical appointment covered by the extended health care plan, and provided they have been given prior authorization by the Employer, such absence shall be neither charged against accumulated sick leave, nor shall they  suffer any loss of income provided such absence does not exceed two (2) hours during one (1) work day. If the absence is longer than two (2) hours, the whole period of absence shall be charged against their accumulated sick leave. Employees may be required to submit satisfactory proof of appointment.  
8. 1. No sick leave shall be granted for any illness which is incurred once an Employee commences their vacation. For the purposes of this Article, vacation is deemed to have commenced on the completion of the last regularly scheduled Shift worked prior to the vacation period, inclusive of scheduled days off.
   2. Sick leave shall be granted:
      1. if an Employee becomes ill during their vacation period as stated in Article 17.08(a) above, only after the expiry of the Employee's vacation and provided the illness continues beyond the vacation;
      2. for the period of sick leave falling within a scheduled vacation period, provided that the Employee became ill prior to the commencement of the scheduled vacation. If the Employee so wishes, the number of sick days paid within the scheduled vacation period shall be considered as vacation days not taken and may be rescheduled to a later date.
   3. Notwithstanding the provision of Article 17.08(a), should an Employee suffer an illness or injury which results in their hospitalization or which would otherwise have prevented the Employee from attending work for three (3) working days or more, the Employee shall be considered as being on sick leave for that period of hospitalization or that period that exceeds the three (3) working days provided the Employee notifies the Employer upon return from vacation and provides satisfactory proof of hospitalization, illness or injury and its duration. Vacation time not taken shall be rescheduled to a mutually agreeable time.
9. Upon termination of employment, all sick leave credits shall be cancelled and no payment shall be due therefore.
10. Sick leave credits shall not accrue during periods of illness, injury, and/or leaves of absence in excess of one (1) month.
11. An Employee may request in writing, once a year, the status of their sick leave entitlements.
12. An Employee absent on sick leave shall make every reasonable effort to keep the Employer advised as to the expected return to work date.