ASPA Brown BagEverything you should know about maternity and parental leaves – and more!

Laying the Groundwork• Terminology• Complexity• Questions• Rights/Laws and Process

A Lay of the LandTime-off – Federal Time-off – University of

Saskatchewan

Pay – Federal Pay and Benefits – University of Saskatchewan

What You Are Entitled ToFederally and at the University of Saskatchewan

Time-Off - Federal Maternity Leave

Only available to the biological mother 17 weeks

Parental Leave Available to biological parents and

adoptive parents as well 35 weeks

Can be taken simultaneously

Time-Off – U of S Maternity Leave

17 weeks Adoption Leave

17 weeks Parental Leave

35 weeks

Pay - Federal You are eligible to receive EI payments

if: You have paid EI premiums You have met the criteria (pregnancy,

baby, adoption) Your normal weekly earnings are reduced

by more than 40% You accumulated at least 600 hours of

insurable employment

Pay - Federal The payment is 55% of your insurable

earnings to a maximum of $49,500. The maximum you can get is $485/week There is a two week waiting period

Pay – U of S Supplemental Benefit Plan

12 months of continuous service Must be in receipt of EI payments Top-up to 95% of your salary 21 weeks of top-up (including 2 week

waiting period) Benefits intact during top-up period

The Process – How to Get the Time and MoneyFederally and at the University of Saskatchewan

I discover I’m pregnant, my partner is pregnant, or I am going to adopt. Now what?

Talk to your supervisor as soon as you feel comfortable doing so

Pick a date for your leave to commence Get documentation Write a letter to HR and cc your supervisor. Log onto PAWS and complete the Leave

Form

Paola’s Sample LetterPlease consider this letter my application for maternity and parental leave. I would like to begin this leave on Monday, March 3rd to Friday, February 28th. The leave would be for a full 52 weeks.

In the event that the baby arrives before the leave commences, I would like to reserve the right to start my leave early. The length of time off would not vary.

Attached is a doctor’s note verifying my pregnancy and expected due date.

Benefit Coverage Benefits are covered during top-up, not

for the remaining 31 weeks Pension Health and Dental Supplemental Life Insurance

Assuming Everything Goes According to Plan…. You start your leave – yeah!!! Day 1 - apply for EI benefits

Don’t delay past 4 weeks or risk losing EI You will get an Access Code from

Service Canada Log-in You don’t have to submit EI reports Ensure Service Canada received ROE

Assuming Everything Goes According to Plan…. Once you receive your first EI

statement, send it to HR at the U of S. Register child as a dependent with

SunLife If everything doesn’t go according to

plan, follow the same process as soon as you can.

Vacation You accrue paid vacation while on the

topped-up portion of your leave You accrue unpaid vacation during the

untopped-up portion of your leave

Pay Increases Any pay increases (e.g., contract

settlements, merit pay, increments) will take effect during your topped-up period.

They will come into effect upon return Signing bonus – prorated by returning

FTE Lump-sums – paid when you return to

work

Merit If you go on leave prior to the merit

application, apply early. Merit award while on leave Must return to work by November 1st to

qualify for merit in the following year

Returning to Work It is nice, but not necessary to check in

with your unit when you get close to returning.

You are guaranteed job reinstatement to the same position, or if it no longer exists, to a substantially similar one.

Partial Leave of Absence.

Things to Ponder Sick leave before leave commences Interruption of Maternity/Parental leave Stillbirth or miscarriage after 19 weeks Changing your Supplemental Life

Insurance benefits Premium holidays