Benefits: Leaves of Absence

One of the benefits afforded to teachers in our provincial system is the ability to take leaves of absence. Most leaves are unpaid but allow a teacher to retain their permanent position and seniority while taking up to two years off work. There are three main types of leaves of absence, part-time leaves, deferred pay leave, and full-time leaves.

1.  Part time leave
 
For example, this type of leave is when a teacher would like to work 80% instead of a hundred percent. You work and are paid according to the percentage you remain working. This type of leave is most often granted to elementary school teachers because the scheduling is easier.
 
2.  Deferred pay leave 

This type of leave is an agreement that lasts for 4 or 5 years.
If you opt for the 4-year plan, each of the years you receive 75% salary. You work three years at 100% and take the last year off. 
In the 5-year plan, each year you receive 80% salary. You work four years and take the fifth year off. 
 
3.  Full-time leave for up to 2 years 

Is what it sounds like. You don’t work in education, and they don’t pay you.

There are some key things to take into account when considering a leave.

Once the board agrees to your request for a leave it is considered binding.
The board is under no obligation to take you back early or provide you with 100% work.  Weigh your situation carefully before asking for a leave.

Questions to answer before requesting any type of leave:

Budget, can you afford a cut in your salary?
What happens if your partner loses their job and you were the only bread winner?
Will you miss working?
What are some of the intangibles you get from going to work every day?
Do you have a plan for your year off?

Additional Things to consider for Full-Time leaves:

1. You are obliged by the government to use a private insurance plan if available. The insurance company will be billing you directly for your coverage, instead of it being deducted at source. 
2. Your pension will need to be bought back after you return to work. When you buy back pension you pay your own contribution and the employers contribution. Can you budget for this, or delay retiring? 
3. Leaves of absence cannot be used to work for another educational institution in a permanent position. (There are special cases. Feel free to ask.) 

Questions for Part time leaves:

1. Will the time off balance the loss of sick days and special leave days? At 80%work you only receive 80% of these days.

 
In the case of deferred leaves and partial leaves of 80%, work pension and insurance are unaffected. In all cases, seniority is unaffected, you accrue one year seniority as if you worked. However, you may not increase on the pay scale unless you work the equivalent of 155 days of the 200. The year off in deferred and full-time leaves result in a year you do not increase your pay step.

So, you’ve answered all of the above question and thought about your budgets, and you want to do it? Awesome! All you need to do is fill out the linked form and submit it to HR before March 1st. 

Part TIme Leave

Full-Time Leave

Deferred Salary Leave