Leaves of Absence and Your Collective Agreement

A District 11 OSSTF Teachers' Resource Pamphlet

Your Collective Agreement gives you the right to access certain leaves. However, certain processes should be followed to ensure your needs are met.

Leaves of Absence Without Pay (Article 18.16)

• A Leave of Absence without pay and without sick leave may be granted for one school year. May be extended for 1 additional year.

  • Time on leave shall not count as teaching experience (for grid salary placement).

  • You will be required to continue Benefit coverage and pay 100% of benefit costs and make pension payments.

  • Request must be received by March 15 of the year the leave begins.

  • Apply to Executive Superintendent of Human Resource Services.

  • Keep a copy of your request.

  • Send a copy to your Principal and to District 11 Office.

  • In your letter, state your reason for application (personal reasons, study, travel, family care, potential employment elsewhere).

  • You will receive notification from the Board.

  • You should inform your Principal if the leave application is accepted.

• Leave of Absence for less than one year but greater than 10 days (Article 18.17)

  • May be granted for exceptional circumstances provided that the time will not be used to extend a vacation and the request is received far enough in advance to allow for the hiring of a qualified Occasional teacher.

  • The same conditions and process as listed above for a full year leave should be followed.

• A Special Leave of Absence of up to 10 days in any one school year, with deduction of full salary, may be granted for exceptional circumstances by the Executive Superintendent of H.R. (Article 18.15)

  • This Special Leave may not be used to extend a vacation.

  • Follow the same procedure as listed for a full year leave.

• Leave of Absence without pay for Teacher Elected or Appointed to Public Office or OSSTF Provincial Office (Article 18.18)

  • Leave shall not exceed 5 school years, shall be without sick leave and time on leave shall not be counted as teaching experience.

  • Initial leave shall be to the conclusion of the school year.

  • An extension of the leave for one school year may be requested annually by March 15 to a maximum of 5 school years.

  • You will be required to pay 100% of Benefit premiums and pension deductions.

  • Apply to Executive Superintendent of H.R. and follow process outlined for full year leave of absence without pay.

• Leave of Absence with deduction of Occasional teacher cost but no loss of sick leave credit (Article 18.12-18.14)

  • Leave of one-half day or one day per year to attend teacher’s own wedding or wedding of a son or daughter or to attend to teacher’s personal business. Approval of Principal required.

  • Leave to attend a significant provincial, national or international competition as official or competitor; one competition per year. Approval of Executive Superintendent of H.R. or designate.

Leave of Absence with Full Salary (Article 18.1-18.11)

• With advance approval of Principal and no loss of sick leave credit

• Jury Duty, subpoena, quarantine

• up to one day per school year to write an exam

• up to one day per school year to attend your own graduation or convocation of a child, spouse/partner

• one day per school year for compassionate reasons due to an emergency situation or to attend funeral of friend or family member not otherwise provided for

• a Principal may excuse a teacher for up to 2 hours and the teacher is to make acceptable arrangements for the coverage of the teacher’s classes

• up to 3 days (may be extended by 2 additional days with Superintendent permission) for death of immediate family member (parent, sibling, spouse/partner, child, father, mother, father/mother-in law, brother/sister-in law, daughter/son-in-law, legal guardian, grandchild, grandparent, or person who has acted as natural parent)

• leave to participate on MET curriculum committees

• leave for religious holidays according to Board policy

• A teacher who is delayed by weather conditions but arrives at school as soon as possible during regular school hours will not have a salary deduction made.

Sick Leave with Full Salary (Article 14)

• Full time teachers will be allowed 20 days of paid sick leave per school year cumulated to a maximum of 220 days. Part-time teachers are entitled to sick leave pro-rated on their teaching assignment.

• A teacher may be asked for medical documentation regarding absence.

• If documentation is requested, any costs of a medical certificate shall be borne by the Board.

• Permissible absence: illness, injury, clinical tests, hospitalization, emergency dental appointments, other health reasons certified by a physician or dentist.

• Up to 5 days per school year for the teacher to care for a child, parent, spouse/partner.

• Up to 3 days per school year for absence due to a local act of nature (maximum may be extended with application in writing to the Executive Superintendent of H.R.)

Pregnancy, Parental, Adoption Leaves (Articles 15, 16, 17)

• These particular leaves are related to the birth or adoption of a child. They are governed by the Employment Standards Act, Employment Insurance Act and our Collective Agreement. 

• Complete information is available from the District Office (ask to have the "Pregnancy, Parental and Adoption Leave Guide" sent to you) and application forms are also available from your Principal.

Deferred Salary / Self-Funded Leave Plan (Article 19)

• A teacher must have 3 years of continuous experience to be eligible for the plan.

• The Executive Superintendent of H.R. must receive the application requesting permission to participate in the plan no later than March 15. Keep a copy of your application.

• Revenue Canada stipulates that a teacher must return to employment with the Board for a period of time that is not less than the time on leave.

• Revenue Canada will not allow a teacher to take this kind of leave immediately prior to retirement.

• A teacher will be required to sign a contract supplied by the Board before final approval is granted; teachers will be notified by April 15 if the application has been accepted.

• The time on leave shall count for seniority purposes but shall not count as teaching experience for salary purposes.

• Benefit premium costs will be paid by the teacher and pension deductions must continue during the leave.

• Sick leave credits shall not accumulate for the time on leave.

• Leave options:

  • two and a half years over three

  • three years over four

  • four years over five

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