Knowledge Base: Library Policies

The Board recognizes the need to provide leave to library personnel on a variety of occasions. Any leave of absence utilized for purposes other than that for which the leave was granted may be grounds for dismissal.

Sick Leave

Library personnel have a responsibility to be at work as scheduled. However, employees should make every effort to ensure that they are in a state of health and well-being which will enable them to perform their job to the best of their abilities.

The Library shall provide the following supports:

• Full time employees of the Library will receive 10 sick days on January 1 of each year. All unused sick days will expire December 31 of each year.

• Part time employees will not receive sick leave credits but may take sick leave without pay for a period of up to 3 consecutive days. After 3 days, a physician’s note will be required for extended sick leave without pay.

Personal and Family Responsibility Leave

All employees are eligible for up to 5 days of unpaid leave per year for personal sickness or short-term care of an immediate family member. This may include attending to personal emergencies and care giving responsibilities related to education of a child.

Compassionate Leave

Temporary leaves of absence with pay will be granted to permanent employees who have been employed for at least 90 days for the following circumstances:

• Critical illness or death in the immediate family – up to three (3) days. This includes: Current spouse, parent, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, child, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent or grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent of spouse, legal guardian.
• Where travel outside the province is required, such leave may additionally include travel time to a maximum of two (2) days within North America, three (3) days outside of North America. 
• An additional three (3) days of unpaid leave will be provided following the period of paid absence.
• Any additional leave will be provided at the discretion of the Board.

Maternity & Parental Leave

Maternity and Parental leave should be granted in compliance with Alberta Labour Employment Standards Code, upon proper written notice of at least six weeks.

• Maternity leave shall be available for a period not to exceed 15 weeks. Upon returning to work, the employee should be placed in the former position, or if the former position is not available, in an equivalent position with no change in level or increment placement.
• Parental leave should be available for a period not to exceed 37 weeks. Upon returning to work, the employee should be placed in the former position or, if the former position is not available, in an equivalent position with no change in level or increment placement. An employee must give at least four (4) weeks written notice of the day he/she plans to return. Earned vacation, holiday benefits, and security will not continue during parental leave.

Domestic Violence Leave

• Up to 10 days of unpaid leave may be taken annually by employees addressing a situation of domestic violence.

Citizenship Ceremony Leave

• Up to one half day of unpaid leave may be taken by employees attending a citizenship ceremony.

Critical Illness of a child

• Up to 36 weeks of unpaid leave may be taken by the parents of a critically ill or injured child.

Death or Disappearance of a Child

• Up to 52 weeks of unpaid leave may be taken by employees whose child has disappeared because of a crime, or up to 104 weeks if a child died because of a crime.