LEAVE OF ABSENCE 14.01 All requests for personal leave of absence of three (3) working days or less shall be made verbally to the Store Manager. If granted, permission will be given in writing to the employee concerned by the Store Manager.
14.02 All requests for personal leave of absence of more than three (3) working days shall be made to the Human Resources Manager in writing by the employee concerned and the letter shall indicate in full the reason for requesting the leave of absence. Each request will be considered on its individual merit and the granting or refusal of all such requests for leave of absence shall be made by the Human Resources Manager in writing to the employee concerned with a copy to the Union Office within fourteen (14) days. Where the request is refused, the letter will state the reason for the refusal.
14.03 If an employee is elected to an office in the Union and the performance of such office requires leave of absence, such leave of absence (up to a maximum of twelve (12) months) without pay or other benefits shall be arranged between the Union, the employee, and the Company. Except in cases of emergency, beyond the control of the Union, the Union agrees to notify in writing the Labour Relations Department at least thirty (30) days in advance that such leave of absence is requested. Leave of absence, if arranged, shall state the length of time the employee may be absent (up to a maximum of twelve (12) months).
14.04 If an employee is elected a delegate of the Union to a Union Convention, Seminar, or Educational Conference, and such attendance requires leave of absence, such leave of absence, without pay, shall be arranged by mutual agreement between the Union, the employee, and the Company. Except in cases of emergency, beyond the control of the Union, the Union agrees to notify in writing the Manager, Industrial Relations at least fifteen (15) days in advance that such leave of absence is requested. Leave of absence, if arranged, shall state the length of time the employee may be absent and such absence shall not exceed three (3) weeks. If the leave of absence is for less than one (1) full week, the employee's day off that week will be scheduled for a day other than those days included in the leave of absence. For all leaves of absence granted under this article for Seminars or Educational Conferences, the Union will pay the Company the cost of maintaining all employee benefits during the leave of absence. For the term of this agreement payment will be calculated at $3.16 per hour.
14.05 An employee granted leave of absence as outlined above in subsections 14.01, 14.02, 14.03, 14.04 shall be restored without loss of seniority to the employee’s former position or to a similar position at the then prevailing wage rate at the expiration of the employee’s leave of absence. This provision becomes void, however, if the absence exceeds the period granted.
