ARTICLE 26
SPECIAL LEAVE

26.01 This Article shall have application only to days on which the employee would otherwise normally be scheduled to work.

26.02 Upon receiving authorization from his/her Department Head or designee, an employee shall be granted special leave with pay for the following reasons up to the maximum time indicated.

26.03 Compassionate Leave

(a) In the event of death of a son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse (including common-law spouse), parent, parent-in-law or grandparent or the husband or wife of any of these - an employee, so bereaved, shall be allowed leave with pay up to three (3) working days together with any necessary travelling time, not exceeding two (2) working days with pay.

(b) Otherwise, an employee shall be allowed up to one (1) day with pay to attend the funeral of persons other than those specified above.

(c) Leave with pay up to two (2) working days shall be allowed for sudden or serious illness within the immediate family (spouse, child, mother or father):

(1) to make arrangements for the care of the person who is ill;

(2) to make arrangements for the care of the children of the person who is ill;

(3) to care for the person who is ill; or

(4) to care for the children of the person who is ill.

(d) The AVP(HRS) may authorize leave under warranted conditions on the same terms as provided above in the event of a death or serious illness of persons other than those specified above.

(e) Should an employee demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Department Head that during a period of vacation a bereavement as described above occurred and provided the employee attended the funeral, s/he shall be allowed compassionate leave and his/her vacation shall be credited accordingly.

(f) If an employee is required to be absent from duty by reason of grave illness of a son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse (including common-law spouse), parent, parent-in-law or grandparent or the husband or wife of any of these - s/he may be allowed compassionate leave in respect of such absence, normally to the extent provided above, at the discretion of the AVP(HRS).

26.04 Emergency or Disaster Conditions

Leave with pay for up to one (1) working day shall be allowed for emergencies or disasters, demanding the immediate personal attention of the employee or preventing the employee from attending his/her place of employment.

26.05 Birth or Adoption

Leave with pay for one (1) working day or less shall be allowed for attendance at birth or adoption proceedings of an employee's child.

26.06 Moving

Leave with pay for up to one (1) working day shall be allowed for moving household effects when changing place of residence (not to exceed one (1) working day per fiscal year). This provision shall not apply to employees who have formally submitted their resignations.

26.07 Citizenship Hearing

Leave with pay for up to one (1) working day shall be allowed for employees to attend the formal Canadian Citizenship Hearing to become a Canadian citizen.

26.08 Maximum Entitlement

The maximum length specified for each circumstance requiring use of special leave shall not be exceeded, however, special leave may be granted more than once for the same circumstances within a fiscal year, provided the total special leave does not exceed ten (10) working days per fiscal year, unless additional special leave is approved by the Board.

26.09 Temporary Employees

For temporary employees, this Article shall not apply.

26.10 Part-time Regular Employees

A part-time regular employee shall be entitled to all special leaves under this Article. However, pay for such special leaves shall be prorated in accordance with his/her regularly scheduled hours of work relative to the daily hours of a full-time established position in the same job title.