PREAMBLE

The Board recognizes that an employee may request a leave of absence to participate or attend to personal and/or educational obligations. The Director of Education may approve Leaves of Absence requests to an employee.

Applications for Leaves of Absences shall be submitted to the immediate Supervisor for a recommendation and then to the appropriate Administrator. Leaves of Absence may be granted and approved for the following purposes;

· To take further educational studies on a full-time basis for a maximum period of one year, renewable at the discretion of the Director of Education.

· To hold public office as a Member of Parliament, Member of the Provincial Parliament, Member of Municipal Government or Mayor.

· To participate in an exchange program with the Ontario Ministry of Education or Department of National Defence or other Board approved initiatives.

· To serve in an administrative position to which a member of a religious community is appointed by the order.

· For personal or professional reasons which are deemed to be compelling.

· For absences not covered by a collective agreement.

· To take on duties requested by Employee Unions, Teacher Federations or Professional Organizations which officially represent employees of this Board.

1. Leaves of Absence with Pay

· Approved Leaves

Applications for Leaves of Absence of any duration with pay shall only be granted by the Executive Officer of Human Resources following consultation with the Director of Education, if they are covered contractually or through Board Policies.

2. Leaves of Absence Without Pay

Applications for Leaves of Absences without pay shall be submitted to the immediate Supervisor for a recommendation and then to the appropriate Administrator with the following considerations;

· If the Leave is for a period of two weeks or less, approve, modify or deny such Leaves, according to the circumstances and after consultation with the appropriate Superintendent.

· if the Leave is for a period of more than two weeks, present recommendations, after consultation with the appropriate Superintendent, to the Director of Education and/or designate, who shall make the final decisions.

· Upon return from the leave of absence, an Employee will be assigned a position with the Board according to the terms and conditions of employment, prevailing contracts, Board Policies and Administrative Regulations. Subject to the surplus and redundancy provisions, if any, of the prevailing collective agreements, terms and conditions and other legally binding terms of employment, Employees will be assigned to a comparable assignment, not necessarily the same location.

· Sick leave credits will not accumulate during the period of leave.

· The period of leave will count for seniority experience but not for salary increment as per their respective Collective Agreements or Terms and Conditions.

· An application for a Leave of Absence for illness shall include a report (including recommendations) from a medical doctor. Where a Leave of Absence is approved for reasons of health, a medical certificate of good health including a statement that the employee is able to resume their duties and responsibilities shall be submitted at the time required for notifying the Director of Education or designate of intention to return to work.

· An employee requesting a Leave of Absence for illness may be required by the Director of Education or designate to have a medical examination by a Board-appointed physician prior to the approval of the Leave of Absence and prior to the return to work.

· The maximum period of a Leave of Absence granted to an employee to serve as a Member of Municipal Government or Mayor shall be for two full terms of office.

· An employee holding municipal office may be granted permission to be absent from duties for a temporary period of time to attend to elected office duties for emergency reasons on the recommendation of the appropriate Superintendent and approved by the Director of Education or designate on the condition that there be no remuneration for the period of absence. The minimum reduction in pay shall be one-half day for any portion of the day that the employee is absent.

· Arrangements are to be made with the applicable provincial benefit plan in order to maintain continued benefit coverage.

Niagara Catholic District School Board *EMPLOYEE LEAVES OF ABSENCE* ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
200 – Human Resources	No 201.1

Adopted Date: January 27, 1998	Latest Reviewed/Revised Date: April 18, 2024