PREGNANCY AND PARENTAL LEAVE
15.1 A resident shall receive up to seventeen (17) consecutive weeks of pregnancy leave at her discretion. In no case will she be required to return to her duties sooner than six (6) weeks following delivery. A resident shall be required to give four (4) weeks notice of her intentions regarding timing of said leave in order to ensure that professional and patient care responsibilities are met. An resident who is eligible for a pregnancy leave may extend the leave for a period of up to twelve (12) months duration, inclusive of any parental leave.
15.2 A resident who is the parent of a child shall receive up to thirty-five (35) weeks parental leave if the resident took pregnancy leave, or thirty-seven (37) weeks if the resident did not take pregnancy leave, following the birth of the child or the coming of the child into custody, care and control of the resident for the first time at the resident's discretion. Parental leave may begin no more than fifty-two (52) weeks after the day the child is born or comes into the custody, care and control of a parent for the first time. A resident shall be required to give four (4) weeks written notice of her/his intention regarding the timing of such leave in order to ensure that professional and patient care responsibilities are met. A resident who is eligible for a parental leave who is the natural father or who is an adoptive parent may extend the parental leave for a period of up to twelve (12) months duration, inclusive of any parental leave.
15.3 Pregnancy shall not constitute cause for termination of employment.
15.4 In the event that a resident takes pregnancy or parental leave, subsequent to the completion of the leave she or he shall be entitled to work for the same period as the leave in order to complete her or his year of post-graduate training.
15.5 All benefits and conditions of work concerning pregnancy/parental leave shall apply equally to the adoption of a child as to the birth of a child.
15.6 When a resident is absent on an approved leave of absence or because of disability, he/she shall be entitled to work for the same period of time as the leave in order to complete his/her training requirements as set out by the appropriate accrediting body and a suitable position shall be provided within twelve (12) months of the date the resident advises that he/she is ready and able to commence work.
15.7 On confirmation by the Employment Insurance Commission of the appropriateness of the Hospital's Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) Plan, a resident who is on pregnancy, parental leave or adoption leave as provided under this Agreement who is in receipt of Employment Insurance or parental leave benefits for a maximum period of 25 weeks shall be paid a supplemental unemployment benefit. That benefit will be equivalent to the difference between seventy-five percent (75%) of the resident's regular weekly earnings and the sum of the resident's weekly Employment Insurance benefits and any other earnings. Such payment shall commence following completion of the two (2) week Employment Insurance waiting period, and receipt by the hospital of the resident's Employment Insurance cheque stub as proof that she/he is in receipt of Employment Insurance pregnancy, parental leave or adoption leave benefits, and shall continue while the resident is in receipt of such Employment Insurance benefits. The resident's regular weekly earnings shall be determined by multiplying her/his regular hourly rate on her/his last day worked prior to the commencement of the leave times her normal weekly hours.
For PGY1 only, the service requirement for eligibility for the SUB Plan shall be thirteen (13) weeks of continuous service.
15.8 It is understood and agreed that the hospital's obligations for payment under the SUB Plan shall not extend beyond the period of the contracted appointment if the resident has completed her training requirements as set out by the appropriate accrediting body.
* For more information on pregnancy, paternal and adoptive leave, click here.