Research Assistant/Support
This is a summary of policy laid out by TSSU, SFU, and BC Labour Law. This page will be updated on a regular basis.
Appointment requests can be made by supervisors (generally department staff and faculty), and the request form is available with a login here.
- No employee should begin work until they receive and sign the contract. RA/RS contracts are sent out by SFU RPT via Docusign. If you have any questions or concerns about the emails, you can email archgrad@sfu.ca or RPT at rp_info@sfu.ca.
- If you have received a Notification of Appointment End, but your supervisor wants to "extend" your appointment, a new request must be submitted.
- All employees must complete safety training if they have not already done so. This is paid time. You will receive an email from Megan Wong with FEnv, or Shannon Wood the Archaeology Laboratory Manager, about safety training.
- Hours must be submitted by date and amount of time worked. The first day you are eligible to work is the day you sign your contract. Reminders are sent out biweekly and include the current term submission deadlines.
- Maximum hours for all employment appointments at SFU are 40 hours per week with a maximum of 8 hours per day. If you are required to work over 8 hours in a day, please also submit permission for overtime from your supervisor. (A TA position that is 168 hours is approx. 10.3 hours per week, so you may work a maximum of 29.7 hours per week at another appointment.)
- Hourly appointments are always paid for vacation "in lieu", at a minimum of 4%. There is no requirement for hourly employees to take vacation time, and any time taken would be unpaid.
- Biweekly/salary appointments may receive 4% in lieu, OR may receive time off. Employees who receive time off have 2 weeks (10 business days) per year, pro-rated for the length of the appointment. Employees who receive time off must request their vacation time in writing to their supervisor.
- If you are appointed biweekly/on salary, you are expected to not work on any statutory holiday. Your pay remains the same week-to-week.
- If you are appointed hourly, any hours you submit for a statutory holiday require approval of overtime from your supervisor.