PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to advise full-time employees of the Personal Emergency Leave (PEL) benefit. This benefit is in addition to the current sick and bereavement benefits provided to full time employees
POLICY STATEMENT
The Corporation of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has adopted this policy to ensure that its employees are provided with authorized time off for personal emergencies not covered by benefits already provided by the Corporation.
This policy covers instances where employees may need to take unplanned leave of absence to attend to situations that directly affect their families or dependants.
Personal Emergency Leave for Full-Time Staff
All full-time employees are entitled to personal emergency leave as per the Employment Standards Act. In addition to the existing sick and bereavement benefits provided by the Corporation, employees are entitled to the following under personal emergency leave legislation:
Each full-time employee will be provided with 10 personal emergency day, in which two (2) of those days are paid, per calendar year for the reason of an urgent matter.
Urgent matter
An employee may take a personal emergency leave because of an “urgent matter” concerning any of the family members listed below. An urgent matter is an event that is unplanned or out of the employee’s control, and can cause serious negative consequences, including emotional harm, if not responded to.
The following family members are included for determining PEL for illness, injury, medical emergency or urgent matter:
· spouse (includes both married and unmarried couples, of the same or opposite genders)
· parent, step-parent, foster parent, child, step-child, foster child, grandparent, step-grandparent, grandchild or step-grandchild of the employee or the employee's spouse
· spouse of the employee's child
· brother or sister of the employee
· relative of the employee who is dependent on the employee for care or assistance
Length of Personal Emergency Leave
All employees are entitled to up to ten (10) full days of job protected personal emergency leave every calendar year. Two (2) of these days are paid.
Unused personal emergency leave days cannot carry over to the next calendar year. The ten (10) days of leave do not have to be taken consecutively. Employees may take the leave in part days, full days or in periods of more than one day.
Eligibility for Personal Emergency Leave Pay
An employee who has been employed for at least one (1) week is entitled to be paid, at their hourly rate, for the first two days of personal emergency leave taken in a calendar year.
Notice Requirements
Generally, an employee must inform their supervisor prior to starting the leave that they will be taking a personal emergency leave of absence.
If the leave has to begin before notifying the employer, the employee must inform their supervisor as soon as possible after starting it. Notice does not have to be given in writing. Oral notice is sufficient.
Proof of Entitlement
Evidence may be required to be provided, within reason, that they are eligible for personal emergency leave. |