Effect of Absence Where any leave of absence without pay exceeds thirty (30) continuous calendar days, the following shall apply: (a) The Employer shall pay its share of the health and welfare benefits for the calendar month in which the leave commences and in the month immediately following. (b) If the leave of absence exceeds thirty (30) consecutive calendar days, benefit coverage may be continued by the employee, provided that she pays the total cost of the premiums to the Employer for each monthly period in excess of the thirty (30) consecutive calendar days leave of absence except as modified by (a). (c) Benefits will accrue from the date of return to employment following such leave of absence. (d) The employee's anniversary date for salary increases shall be adjusted by the period of time in excess of the thirty (30) continuous calendar days, and the new anniversary date shall prevail thereafter. (e) Seniority, service, vacation credits or any other benefits under any provision of the collective agreement or elsewhere will not accumulate, but will remain fixed at the amount held at the commencement of the leave. (f) Notwithstanding the above, the Employer shall continue to pay its share of the premium for the benefit plans for employees who are on paid leave of absence or WSIB, and will continue to pay its share of the premium for the benefit plans in accordance with the Employment Standards Act for employees who are on pregnancy/parental leave (currently a maximum of eighteen (18) months) or family medical leave (currently a maximum of twenty-eight (28) weeks in a fifty-two (52) week period) or emergency leave (currently a maximum of three (3) unpaid sick leave days for personal illness, three (3) unpaid family responsibility leave days for family member illness or other urgent matters, and two (2) unpaid bereavement leave days per year). It is understood that the obligation of the Employer to pay its share of the health and welfare benefits while an employee is on WSIB shall continue only so long as the employment relationship continues or thirty months, whichever occurs first unless prohibited by legislation. For purposes of this provision, it is understood and agreed that any absence under Article 14.01 shall be considered a leave with pay. (g) It is understood that an employee who chooses to continue benefits under (a), (b) or (f) above shall provide the Employer with payment for the amount required on or before the first day of the month in which payment is due. (h) Notwithstanding 11.10 (e), when an employee is on an educational leave under Article 11.03 above, she will continue to accumulate seniority for up to one (1) academic year. The employee will have the option of remaining in the benefits plans provided she pays the total cost of such benefit premiums subject to clause (a) above. Seniority for part-time will be based on average hours over the last twenty-six (26) weeks prior to Leave of Absence. (i) In cases of absences for pregnancy and parental leave under the Employment Standards Act, seniority and service shall accrue for the duration of the leave and the Employer will maintain its share of the insured benefit premiums provided the employee issues a cheque to the Employer covering her portion of the premiums each month in advance. The Union and the Employer agree to abide by the Human Rights Code.
Other Leaves of Absence In the event that you are on a bona fide leave of absence, not otherwise described in this definition, from which you have not returned to employment with the Company or an Affiliate, your Separation from Service has occurred on the first day on which your leave of absence period exceeds six months or, if earlier, upon your termination of employment (provided that such termination of employment constitutes a Separation from Service in accordance with the last sentence of the first paragraph of this definition).