Extended Tours/Hybrid Schedules The Employer and the Union may agree to implement extended tours or hybrid schedule (mix of extended and normal tours). For clarity, a hybrid schedule may include extended tours on weekends and normal tours during the week. The following will apply:
(a) Each facility/unit must have sixty-six and two thirds percent (66⅔%) agreement of the full-time and part-time employees who work in the facility/ unit. Each Home must have the majority agreement of the full-time and part- time employees who vote on the issue to agree on a trial period of up to six months. Once the trial period is complete, each Home must have a minimum of 66⅔% agreement of the full-time and part-time employees who vote on the issue to continue with the new schedule on a permanent basis.
(b) The Extended Tour/Hybrid Schedule may be cancelled by either party on giving ten (10) calendar weeks’ notice to the other in writing of its desire to terminate. A meeting shall be held within two (2) weeks of receipt of such notice to discuss the reasons for the cancellation. Extended tours may be discontinued by the Union in any facility/unit when sixty percent (60%) of the full-time and part-time employees in the facility/unit so indicate by secret ballot to the Union.
(c) With the exception of the specific variations set forth in this Article, all other conditions and terms of the Collective Agreement and Appendices shall remain in full force and effect.
Self Scheduling The Home and the Union may agree to implement a self-scheduling process. Self-scheduling is the mechanism by which employees in a Home create their own work schedules. The purpose of self scheduling is to improve job satisfaction and quality of work life for the participating employees. Self scheduling requires a collaboration of employees and management to ensure proper coverage of the Home and to meet the provisions of the Collective Agreement. It is agreed that self scheduling will be negotiated locally by the Home and the Union and will include a trial period. Each Home must have the majority agreement of the full-time and part-time employees who vote on the issue to agree on a trial period of up to six months. Once the trial period is complete, each Home must have a minimum of 66⅔% agreement of the full-time and part-time employees who vote on the issue to continue with the new schedule on a permanent basis.
HOURS OF WORK AND SCHEDULING 15.01 The normal hours of work for an employee are not a guarantee of work per day or per week, or a guarantee of days of work per week. The normal hours of work shall be seven and one-half (7-1/2) hours per day, and seventy-five (75) hours in any bi-weekly period.
15.02 The normal daily shift shall consist of seven and one-half (7 ½) consecutive hours, exclusive of a one-half (1/2) hour unpaid meal period. For employees working the night shift, this one-half (1/2) hour will be paid. Employees shall be entitled to a fifteen (15) minute paid break during each half of the normal daily shift, at a time designated by the Employer. An employee may combine her rest periods in order to have one (1) thirty (30) minute break, providing she has prior approval from the Director of Nursing. When a meal period is interrupted requiring an employee to attend to a work related problem, then the balance of the unused meal period will be taken within two (2) hours of the interruption. If the employee is unable to reschedule such time, she shall be paid time and one-half (1½) her regular straight time hourly rate for all time worked in excess of her normal daily hours, in accordance with Article 16.01.
15.03 Employees required for reporting purposes shall remain at work for a period of up to fifteen (15) minutes which shall be unpaid. Should the reporting time extend beyond fifteen (15) minutes however, the entire period shall be considered overtime for the purposes of payment.
15.04 Requests for change in posted work schedules must be submitted in writing and co-signed by the employee willing to exchange days off or shifts and are subject to the discretion of the Administrator or her designate. In any event, it is understood that such a change initiated by the employee and approved by the Employer shall not result in overtime compensation or payment or any other claims on the Employer by any employee under the terms of this Agreement.
15.05 Where there is a change to Daylight Savings from Standard Time or vice-versa, an employee who is scheduled and works a full shift shall be paid for the actual hours worked at her regular straight time hourly rate.
15.06 There shall be no split shifts.
(a) There shall be a minimum of sixteen (16) hours off between changes of shift unless mutually agreed otherwise.
(b) An employee shall not be required to work more than seven (7) consecutive days without days off, unless mutually agreed to by the employee and the Employer.
(a) Any employee who is working a permanent shift as of December 31, 1996 shall not be transferred to another shift without their consent.
(b) Where possible, the employee will not be scheduled to work more than two
Innovative Scheduling Schedules which are inconsistent with the Collective Agreement provisions may be developed in order to improve quality of working life, support continuity of resident care, ensure adequate staffing resources, and support cost-efficiency. The parties agree that such innovative schedules may be determined locally by the Home and the Union subject to the following principles:
(a) Such schedules shall be established by mutual agreement of the Home and the Union;
(b) These schedules may pertain to full-time and/or part-time employees;
(c) The introduction of such schedules and trial periods, if any, shall be determined by the local parties. Such schedules may be discontinued by either party with notice as determined through local negotiations;
(d) Upon written agreement of the Home and the Union, the parties may agree to amend collective agreement provisions to accommodate any innovative unit schedules;
(e) It is understood and agreed that these arrangements are based on individual circumstances and each agreement is made on a without prejudice or precedent basis.
(f) It is understood and agreed that these arrangements can be utilized for temporary job postings for seasonal coverage (e.g. weekend workers, etc.).
