LEAVE OF ABSENCE 13.01 The Company may, within its absolute discretion, grant a leave of absence without pay for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days to an employee, such request will not be unreasonably withheld, provided that:
a) the employee gives notice in writing to the Supervisor of his/her request for a Leave of Absence at least thirty (30) days prior to the proposed commencement of the leave of absence (except in the case of emergency), and
b) in the judgment of the Company, the proposed leave of absence can be arranged without inconvenience to normal operations.
c) Leaves of absence of greater than thirty (30) days may be granted by the Company only if deemed to be operationally feasible.
d) Employees on leave of absence must maintain their Union dues. Failure to maintain Union dues will result in loss of all seniority. Leaves of absence of greater than thirty (30) days may be granted by the Company, which shall first consult with the union prior to granting such a leave
13.02 Applicants must indicate, on forms provided by the Company, the expected dates of departure and return when given notice of their request for a leave of absence.
13.03 The Company shall notify in writing both the applicant and the Union of its decision within seven (7) days after the request was made by the employee to the Company.
13.04 The Company has agreed that leave of absence will be administered on the following basis:
1. Requests must be made in accordance with Clause 13.01 (a).
2. Seniority will continue to accrue during such Leave of Absence subject to 13.01 (d).
13.05 Upon return from Leave of Absence without pay, an employee shall have the right to be reinstated to a position equivalent to the one he/she occupied at the time he/she left. If there has been a reduction of manpower during the absence of the employee, he/she shall exercise his/her bumping rights upon his/her return. The Company will use reasonable efforts, in compliance with its human rights obligations, to place the returning employee on a shift that will not result in the displacement of another employee.
Maternity Leave Maternity benefits are for the mother only and cannot be shared between the two parents.
a) Every Employee who becomes pregnant shall notify the Employer in writing of the pregnancy at least four weeks before the day she intends to commence the leave, and, subject to subsection (b), shall be granted leave of absence without pay for a total period not to exceed seventeen (17) consecutive weeks consisting of two periods as follows:
i) a maximum of eleven weeks prior to the expected termination date of the pregnancy; and
ii) notwithstanding (i) above, an Employee may elect to use earned vacation and/or compensatory leave credits prior to and subsequent to, use of unpaid maternity leave but total leave shall not exceed 11 weeks prior to and 26 weeks after the termination of pregnancy.
b) An Employee who has not commenced maternity leave without pay may elect to use her sick leave credits up to and beyond the date that the pregnancy terminates, subject to the provisions set out in the Sick Leave Article. For purposes of this clause, illness or injury as defined in Article 35 shall include medical disability related to pregnancy.
c) At its discretion, the Employer may require an Employee to submit a Medical certificate certifying pregnancy.
d) Where an Employee commences maternity leave at a date later than eleven (11) weeks prior to the expected date of termination of the pregnancy, the Employer may request submission of a
e) Leave granted under this clause shall be counted for the calculation of “continuous employment” for the purpose of calculating severance pay and vacation leave. Time spent on such leave shall be counted for pay increment purposes.
f) An Employee who has requested a leave of absence may return to work before the period is over with the consent of the Employer, or by giving the Employer four (4) weeks of notice in writing of the day of intended return to work. The required notices are to
Paternity Leave 7.4.6(a) An employee will provide to the employer at least ten weeks prior to each proposed period of paternity leave, with:
