General Leave of Absence a) Leave of absence without pay may be granted to employees for valid reasons as set out by Company policy.
b) An employee on general leave of absence shall not accumulate sick leave credits, or earn vacation but shall retain the seniority, sick leave credits, and vacation credits earned prior to commencing leave of absence.
c) Employees do not have the option of continuing their benefit coverage during the leave.
d) Employees on leave of absence shall be required to apply for any extension.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE Employees, upon application in writing on the prescribed form, may be granted leave of absence for a period not to exceed: one month if they have less than three years’ service; two months if they have three years’ but less than five years’ service and three months if they have five years’ service or more, provided their services can be spared. Extended leave (leave of five days or more) will be granted only if no extended leave was granted in the preceding five calendar years. Employees will be entitled to unpaid pregnancy leave and parental leave in accordance with the provisions of the Employment Standards Act. All employees who have completed one year of continuous service, and are a custodial parent may, upon application, be granted leave for one day with pay to attend the birth of their child or to attend the homecoming of the mother and child. Such leave should, wherever possible be pre-arranged, and is granted only when the birth or the homecoming falls on a day which is considered to be a regular work day for the employee. Female employees who have completed one year of continuous service, will upon application be granted leave for one day with pay on the day immediately prior to the commencement of their pregnancy leave. All employees who have completed one year of continuous service may, upon application, be granted two days leave of absence per year, with pay, for the purpose of adopting a child. Such leave should wherever possible be prearranged and approved by the employee’s supervisor. Leave of absence without loss of pay will be granted to employees seeking Canadian Citizenship when they must be absent from work to appear before:
(a) a Citizenship Officer to process their application
(b) a Citizenship Judge to assess their qualifications
(c) a Citizenship Judge to swear the oath of allegiance. Normally each absence will not exceed a half day. Employees who engage in other employment while on such leave shall be considered to have automatically terminated their service unless they have received permission in writing from the Commission to undertake such employment. Failure to report for work when such leave expires shall constitute sufficient cause for discharge from the Commission’s service. However, a reasonable extension of leave may be granted upon application.
Leave of Absence for Union Functions It is agreed that official representatives of the Union be granted leave of absence, without pay, to attend Union Conventions or perform any other function on behalf of the Union and its affiliations, provided not more than ten (10) Union representatives shall be away at any one time. Such leave of absence shall not affect the employee's seniority and/or benefits contained in this Agreement.
Leave of Absence for Union Business Any elected or appointed officer of the Union shall, upon request and approval of the Employer, be granted a leave of absence without pay to attend to Union business, or the leave can be granted with pay if the Union agrees to pay the cost of the substitute.
Parental Leave of Absence A. A female unit member may use any or all accumulated leave during pre- and post-natal care for that period of time she is temporarily disabled, as determined by the unit member and her physician.
B. A female unit member desiring to use any or all accumulated leave during a period of pregnancy or postnatal care should state this in writing to the Office of Human Resources and Employee Relations.
C. A female unit member who uses any or all accumulated leave as a temporary disability during pre- and post-natal care must return to active service as soon as her physical health permits according to her physician; unless she requests a leave of absence without pay or she resigns.
D. A female unit member who does not wish to use any or all accumulated leave during pre- and/or postnatal care shall be granted a leave of absence without pay provided that a reasonable notice in writing to the Office of Human Resources and Employee Relations is made in advance.
E. A unit member using a leave of absence without pay for pre-natal care, adoption, post-natal care and/or child rearing (not to exceed a period of one (1) year in duration) shall have the opportunity to continue benefit programs provided to unit members. Unit members with at least one (1) year experience with the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ County Board of Education will be required after the first twelve (12) weeks to assume the Board's share of the premium in addition to any premiums he/she theretofore paid for dependent coverage and shall be offered employment upon expiration of such leave in the first available position for which he/she is certified within two (2) years from the ending date of the leave, provided that a written, advanced request is made to the Office of Human Resources and Employee Relations for re-employment which includes the anticipated date of return. If the return is within ninety (90) duty days and such return is stipulated at the beginning of the leave, the same position shall be offered.
F. Adoptive parents may use up to twelve (12) weeks in compliance with Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of accumulated leave for the purpose of adoption and/or bonding.
G. If using combined sick leave and leave without pay unit members who have at least one (1) year experience with the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ County Board of Education will have premiums paid for a total of twelve (12) weeks per year in accordance with the terms of the FMLA, and have teaching position held prior to such leave.