Leave for New Parents
Who is eligible?
All members of the Faculty Association who become a parent of a new-born or newly adopted children are eligible for parental leave.
All members of the Faculty Association, Postdoctoral Fellows, University Research Associates, and Visiting Faculty are eligible for unpaid parental leave.
What is offered?
Continuing and long-term members of the Faculty Association who become a parent of a new-born or newly adopted children are eligible for paid and unpaid parental leave.
- one week at 95% salary (EI waiting period)
- 34 weeks at 95% of salary less the maximum EI benefit that may be paid
- 43 weeks unpaid leave during which you may be eligible for EI benefits
Where both parents are employees of SFU, the maximum combined leave entitlement (paid and unpaid) is 78 weeks.
If a child is certified by a medical practitioner to be suffering from a physical, psychological or emotional condition requiring an additional period of parental care, a faculty member can request an additional five weeks of unpaid parental leave.
Example: Birth mother claims full EI parental benefits
Type of leave |
EI benefits from Service Canada |
SFU Faculty top-up benefits |
Maternity
|
Week 1: unpaid
Week 2-16 (15 weeks): 55% of salary |
Week 1 (1 week): 95% of salary
Week 2-35: 95% of salary less the maximum EI benefit that may be paid |
Parental |
Standard parental benefits Week 17-51 (35 weeks): 55% of salary OR Extended parental benefits Week 17 – 77 (61 weeks): 33% of salary |
Weeks 36-52: will be unpaid from SFU. OR Weeks 36-78: will be unpaid from SFU.
|
Example: Birth father claims full EI parental benefit:
Type of leave |
EI benefits from Service Canada |
SFU Faculty top-up benefits |
Parental Birth father is not required to serve waiting period (served by birth mother)
|
Standard parental benefits
Week 1-35 (35 weeks): 55% of salary OR Extended parental benefits Week 1 – 61(61 weeks): 33% of salary |
Week 1-35: 95% of salary less the maximum EI benefit that may be paid
Weeks 36-52: will be unpaid from SFU. OR Weeks 36-78: will be unpaid from SFU. |
Parental Birth father is required to serve waiting period |
Week 1: unpaid
Week 2-36 (35 weeks): 55% of salary OR Extended parental benefits Week 2 – 62 (61 weeks): 33% of salary |
Week 1 (1 week): 95% of salary
OR Weeks 36-78: will be unpaid from SFU. |
Example: Adopting parent claims full EI parental benefits:
Type of leave |
EI benefits |
SFU Faculty top-up benefits |
Parental |
Week 1: unpaid Standard parental benefits Week 2-36 (35 weeks): 55% of salary Week 2 – 62 (61 weeks): 33% of salary |
Week 1 (1 week): 95% of salary
Week 2-35: 95% of salary less the maximum EI benefit that may be paid. OR Weeks 36-78: will be unpaid from SFU. |
Benefits and Pensions while on leave
Members will be placed on leave of absence without pay for the duration of the leave and will have benefits coverage maintained on the same basis as before the leave.
What is required
Application Process
Faculty members should complete the Parental Leave Application Form for paid and/or unpaid parental leave and provide to the Department Chair at least 3 months prior to the anticipated commencement of the leave.
1. Birth mothers are able to start taking their parental leave up to 8 weeks prior to the expected date of birth.
2. It is important that you confirm on the Parental Leave Application Form whether you are required to serve the one-week waiting period before receiving EI benefits. In many cases, when parental leave is shared, the other parent may have already served the one-week waiting period.
3. You will also need to indicate the length of the leave you are applying for, up to a maximum of 78 week. Please note, your decision regarding the length of the leave you will take from SFU is not tied to an EI decision.
If a child is certified by a medical practitioner to be suffering from a physical, psychological or emotional condition requiring an additional period of parental care, a faculty member can request an additional five weeks of unpaid parental leave. The medical certificate can be sent with the Parental Leave Application Form to the Dean, Chair or Director. The Dean, Chair or Director can request clarification from Wellness if needed.
Employment Insurance Parental Benefits
You must obtain the forms required for Employment Insurance (EI) parental benefits from your local EI office at Service Canada. The SFU Payroll department will file a Record of Employment (ROE) electronically with the EI office once your leave begins. EI will have this record of employment to refer to when you process your application for benefits. Please be aware there is a 1 week required waiting period before receiving EI benefits.
Employees will have the option to take either:
- an extended parental leave of up to 61 weeks for birth mothers, birth fathers and adoptive parents with reduced EI benefits at 33% of earnings, which must be claimed within a 78-week period (18 months) after the week the child was born or placed for the purpose of adoption; or,
- the current parental leave of up to 35 weeks for birth mothers, birth fathers and adoptive parents with the current EI benefits at 55% of earnings, which must be claimed within a 52-week period (12 months) after the week the child was born or placed for the purpose of adoption.
- An employee must make their selection of benefit periods at the time of EI application. This decision should be made carefully as the selection cannot be changed.
Time |
Faculty Member |
SFU |
3 months before start of leave |
Complete the Parental Leave Application Form |
Chair/ Director /Dean approves & sends to FR |
In advance or after start date of leave |
Apply for EI: choose current or reduced benefit option |
n/a |
Start date of leave |
Payroll sends ROE to EI |
|
After birth |
If child arrives at a different date indicated on the EI application, notify of EI of actual birth date. |
|
After birth |
Add new family member to your benefits by completing the PBC Change Form. |
|
After birth |
If your child is certified by a medical practitioner to be suffering from a physical, psychological or emotional condition requiring an additional period of parental care, you can request an additional five weeks of unpaid parental leave by sending the medical certificate to your Chair/Dean or Wellness. |
Chair/Dean or Wellness will notify FR of additional 5 weeks in writing. |
During leave |
Office of the Vice-President Academic will let tenure track faculty know they may request a contract extension and where applicable a delay in tenure consideration for one year. |
Tenure-track faculty members who have been on medical or parental leave from the University for four months or longer will be notified by the Office of the Vice-President, Academic that they may request a contract extension and, where applicable, a delay in tenure consideration for one year (article 30.13).
Resources
Tools:
Parental Leave Application Form (updated Dec 5/18)
Parental Blue Cross - Employee Change Form (To add new family member)
Collective Agreement Article:
Article 47: Leaves of Absence (Leave for New Parents, sections 47.10 to 47.28)
Contacts
Contact the Faculty Relations Advisor handling inquiries for your Faculty.