Infosheet No. 8
Teachers and Parenthood Leave
Collective Agreement Provisions
Both the Provincial Collective Agreement (Article 17) and the Labrador West Collective Agreement (Article 28) provide for maternity, adoption and parental leave without pay to a teacher, with the provision that the teacher shall be returned to a comparable or the same teaching position held prior to the commencement of such leave, all other provisions of the collective agreements having been met. While the Labrador West Bargaining Unit has been combined with the Provincial Bargaining Unit, all articles under the NLTA Labrador West Collective Agreement that differ from the articles of the NLTA Provincial Collective Agreement remain in effect for all teachers covered by the Labrador West Collective Agreement as of the date of signing of the 2020/2022 Collective Agreement (i.e. August 31, 2022) for as long as they are members of the NLTA or until they commence working in a permanent position that was not previously covered by the Labrador West Collective Agreement.
(a) Maternity Leave
Maternity leave shall, upon written request, be granted to the teacher as requested and in accordance with the provisions of the Collective Agreement. When requesting maternity leave, teachers should be aware of the following:
- A written request must be made not later than four months prior to the expected date of delivery;
- The leave shall be granted to commence and terminate as requested;
- Where possible, the application shall be accompanied by a doctor’s certificate confirming the expected date of delivery;
- The period of leave may be up to 58.5 continuous weeks when school is in session;
- Time periods specified in the article may be changed by mutual agreement.
The school board cannot require a teacher to commence maternity leave earlier than the time specified if she can produce a certificate from a medical practitioner stating that her health is compatible with the requirements of her teaching position.
In addition, Clause 28.07 of the Labrador West Agreement states: A teacher who wishes to extend a maternity leave beyond that time specified in Clause 28.01(a), shall apply in writing to the School Board and such extension may be granted to a maximum of two (2) years without pay. This clause applies only to teachers that were covered by the Labrador West Agreement as per the above.
For more specific information on maternity leave and related issues, please refer to the NLTA publication “Going on Maternity Leave”, which can be accessed on the NLTA website at www.nlta.ca.
(b) Adoption Leave
When requesting adoption leave, teachers should be aware of the following:
- A written request must be made at or prior to the time the teacher’s application is accepted by an adoption agency;
- Leave shall be granted to commence and terminate as requested;
- Leave shall be for up to 58.5 continuous weeks when school is in session;
- Time periods may be changed by mutual consent.
(c) Parental Leave
- A parent can avail of parental leave up to a maximum of 58.5 continuous weeks when school is in session.
- A written request must be made to the School Board not later than one month prior to the commencement of the leave.
Sick Leave
Illness associated with pregnancy and childbirth is covered by sick leave. A teacher who has sufficient sick leave credits can access paid sick leave up to the established date of the commencement of maternity leave and/or following the agreed date of return. Also, birth mothers are entitled to access paid sick leave immediately following delivery, if necessary, for a “reasonable” period of recovery from childbirth. Generally speaking, six calendar weeks from the date of birth is considered to be reasonable with a physician’s recommendation. As with any use of sick leave, paid leave is not available during the non-teaching periods (July and August, Christmas and Easter breaks, any other unpaid holidays). Teachers who access paid sick leave for recovery from childbirth are not eligible to claim Employment Insurance (EI) maternity benefits until the end of the period of sick leave; however, the waiting period may be waived if a teacher’s last day(s) before maternity leave is/are paid sick leave. Teachers should advise the school board of their intent to access paid sick leave following delivery when requesting maternity leave. Medical certificates must, of course, be provided as per the usual requirements for sick leave.
Teachers on parenthood leave will continue to accumulate teaching service for the purpose of sick leave accrual up to a maximum leave period of 58.5 weeks (one and a half school years).
Pensions
Upon returning to work following a period of approved parenthood leave, teachers are able to buy back the leave time for pensionable service in the Teachers’ Pension Plan (TPP). The best time to buy back service is within 180 days of your return to work from that leave. Your employer will match contributions if the purchase contract is signed within 180 days. After 180 days, you will pay the full actuarial amount. There may be income tax implications. Check with the CRA for more details regarding this.
For information or to make transactions relative to this, it is necessary to contact the Teachers’ Pension Plan Corporation, 130 Kelsey Drive, Suite 101, St. John’s, NL A1B 0T2; phone: 1-833-345-8772 or 709-793-8772; email: memberservices@tppcnl.ca.
Salary Increments
Teachers’ placement on the salary grid is reviewed and changes made once per year at the beginning of the school year or at the date of initial employment. To determine the number of teaching years for salary increments, all teaching days to the date of calculation are totalled and this total divided by 195, which is the number of days in a school year. A fraction of half a year or more is required to move to the next step on the salary grid. Teachers on parental leave will continue to accumulate teaching service for the purpose of salary increments up to a maximum leave period of 58.5 weeks (one and a half school years).
Since parenthood leave is leave without pay, in addition to the salary lost for each day on parenthood leave, there will also be a reduction during the months of July and August. A teacher’s yearly salary is based on a 195 day teaching year and payable in 26 equal installments. Therefore, gross pay received for the months of July and August will be reduced in proportion to the number of unpaid days during the school year.
NLTA Membership
Teachers on parenthood leave qualify for active membership in the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association under Section III.A.(4)(f ) of the NLTA By-Laws. In order to maintain membership and benefits, the fee is $5.00 per month for each complete month of leave. It is the responsibility of the teacher to contact the Association advising of the leave and arranging to pay the membership fee.
Group Insurance
As active members of the Association (see paragraph immediately above), teachers on parenthood leave are eligible to continue their membership in the Group Insurance Plan.
For the basic plan, A1 – Life, B – Health, and A3 – Accidental Death and Dismemberment, the government will pay its share of the premiums for a maximum of one year of parenthood leave. Should a teacher take more than one year of leave, the full premium must be paid by the teacher for the additional leave period. The administrators of our plan, Johnson Inc., will arrange to have the premiums owed by the teacher paid by a bank deduction system. The onus is on the teacher to contact Johnson Inc. to arrange for coverage to continue.
It is critical for teachers to realize that if insurance is not continued during a period of parenthood leave, medical proof of insurability will be required in order to be reinstated in the plan. Coverage is provided for pregnancies for those teachers who are automatically enrolled in the plan whether or not the pregnancy commenced prior to the date of coverage.
Employment Insurance
Employment Insurance (EI) provides benefits for teachers on maternity/parenthood leave, provided the eligibility requirements for EI are met. Biological mothers are eligible for 15 weeks of maternity benefits. The weeks of standard parental benefits can be claimed by either parent. For standard parental, up to 40 weeks can be shared between parents, but one parent cannot receive more than 35 weeks of standard benefits. For extended parental, up to 69 weeks can be shared between parents, but one parent cannot receive more than 61 weeks of extended benefits. (Two parents can share parental benefits and may be eligible for an additional 5 or 8 weeks of those benefits.) Adopting parents may also share parental benefits, similarly, once the child arrives in the home. Note: Although parental leave under the Collective Agreements is available to both parents for a period of up to 58.5 continuous weeks when school is in session, EI regulations specify that the combined total standard benefits available to biological parents is 50 weeks (55 weeks if shared), and 35 weeks (40 weeks if shared) for adoptive parents. The combined total extended benefits available to biological parents is 76 weeks (84 weeks if shared), and 61 weeks (69 weeks if shared) for adoptive parents.
Teachers can receive EI maternity and parental benefits during the non-teaching periods (Christmas and Easter breaks, summer). Receipt of “holdback” pay does not impact on a teacher receiving these benefits during July and August. For example, if a teacher has a spouse who is not a teacher and who is returning to work at the beginning of July after collecting 47 weeks of EI maternity and parental benefits, that teacher would be eligible to claim the remaining eight weeks of parental benefits during July and August. An application for Employment Insurance must be filed at the nearest Service Canada office or online at: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-maternity-parental/apply.html
Standard Parental Benefits
Standard Parental Benefits can be paid for a maximum of 35 weeks and must be claimed within a 52-week period (12 months) after the week the child was born or placed for the purpose of adoption. The benefit rate is 55 percent of the claimant’s average weekly insurable earnings up to a maximum amount. The two parents can share 40 weeks of standard parental benefits provided neither parent exceeds 35 weeks of standard parental benefits.
Extended Parental Benefits
Extended Parental Benefits can be paid for a maximum of 61 weeks and must be claimed within a 78-week period (18 months) after the week the child was born or placed for the purpose of adoption. The benefit rate is 33 percent of the claimant’s average weekly insurable earnings up to a maximum amount. The two parents can share 69 weeks of extended parental benefits provided neither parent exceeds 61 weeks of extended parental benefits.
NOTE: In the event of a discrepancy between this Infosheet and the Group Insurance Master Policy, the terms of the Group Insurance Master Policy will apply. In the event of a discrepancy between this Infosheet, and the Joint Sponsorship Agreement, the terms of the Joint Sponsorship Agreement will apply.
This Infosheet is one of a series which are updated periodically and which provide information of a general nature only. Documents such as Collective Agreements, legislation and policies referenced in Infosheets will govern the specific rights and benefits of members. For further information relevant to your specific set of circumstances, please contact: Programs and Services, NLTA Office, 3 Kenmount Road, St. John’s, NL A1B 1W1. Telephone: 709-726-3223 or 1-800-563-3599 (toll free) • mail@nlta.ca • www.nlta.ca
