Extended Child Care Leave Upon written notification, no later than four weeks prior to the expiration of the aggregate leave taken pursuant to Clauses 21.1 (Maternity Leave) and 21.2 (Parental Leave), an employee will be granted a further unpaid leave of absence not to exceed one year. An employee wishing continued coverage under any applicable benefit plans will pay the total premium costs while on extended child care leave. An employee on extended child care leave will provide the Employer with at least one month's written notice of return from such leave. Upon return from extended child care leave, an employee will be placed in their former position.
Child Care Leave The Employer shall, upon her request, grant an employee:
(i) Who is the natural parent of a newborn or unborn child, or
(ii) Who is adopting or has adopted a child, a leave of absence without pay of thirty-seven (37) consecutive weeks or such a shorter period as the employee requests so as to enable the employee to care for the child An employee who is or will be a natural parent intending to take this childcare leave shall
(iii) Provide the Employer with a medical doctor’s certificate specifying the probable date of delivery or the date upon which the birth has occurred and,
(iv) In absence of an emergency, give four (4) weeks written notice to the Employer of the commencement date and duration of the leave. An employee who is a parent of the newborn, other than the birth mother, shall be granted three (3) days leave without loss of pay within a reasonable period of time surrounding the occasion of the birth of the child. While on child care leave, an employee shall retain her full employment status and continue to accumulate seniority. An employee who is an adoptive parent intending to take this leave shall:
(v) Provide the Employer with the proof that a child has been or will be placed with the employee for the purpose of adoption,
(vi) Notify the Employer of the commencement date and duration of the leave on being made aware of the date of placement with the employee for adoption, and
(vii) In the absence of an emergency, give four (4) months notice to the Employer before the anticipated day on which a child will come into the employees care and custody in the case of private adoption or upon approval in accordance with the Family Services Act as a prospective adopting parent. Where a natural mother intends to take a child care leave in addition to a maternity leave, except if the newborn is hospitalized when an employee’s maternity leave expires, the employee is required to commence the child care leave immediately on expiration of the maternity leave unless the Employer and the employee otherwise agree. The child care leave may be taken by either natural or adoptive parents. Where both parents are employees it may be shared by the child’s parent’s but the leave is only thirty-seven (37) weeks in TOTAL, regardless of how it is divided, and it must be taken in a consecutive manner. The combined maternity leave of seventeen (17) weeks and child care leave thirty-seven (37) weeks taken by one or both parents cannot total more than fifty-two (52) weeks after that date. Child care leave shall begin not earlier than the date on which the newborn or adopted child came into the care and custody of the employee and end not later than fifty-two (52) weeks after that date.
Volunteer Firefighting Leave Leave without pay will be granted when an employee who is a volunteer firefighter is called to duty to respond to a fire, natural disaster or medical emergency.
Family Care Leave In accordance with RCW 49.12 and WAC 296-130, employees shall be allowed to use any or all of their choice of sick leave or other paid time off to care for a family member (as defined above) who has a serious health condition or an emergency condition. Employees shall not be disciplined or otherwise discriminated against because of their exercise of these rights.
Annual Leave Loading During a period of annual leave an employee will receive a loading of 17.5 per cent calculated on the employee’s normal hourly rate of pay and the daily fares allowance if applicable. The loading will also apply to proportionate leave on lawful termination.
Medical Care Leave An Employee who is unable to make the necessary arrangements for maintenance of personal health care outside of scheduled work time, shall be granted time off with pay. Such time off shall not exceed sixteen (16) working hours per calendar year. Hours in excess of sixteen (16) hours per calendar year shall be deducted from the Employee's sick leave accumulation.
