Who is eligible?

All long-term and continuing members of the Faculty Association and University Research Associates who become a parent of a new-born or newly adopted children are eligible for parental leave.

All short-term and recurring limited term members of the Faculty Association and Visiting Faculty are eligible for unpaid parental leave.

Members on a post retirement contract are NOT eligible. 

What is offered from SFU?

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.

  • 35 weeks paid leave; one week paid at 95% salary (EI waiting period) and 34 weeks paid at 95% of salary (less the maximum EI benefit that may be paid)
  • 17 or 43 weeks unpaid leave during which you may be eligible for EI benefits, depending on the EI option chosen
  • The maximum combined paid and unpaid leave entitlement  is 78 weeks.

Shared Leave - where both parents are employees of SFU, please see Collective Agreement Articles 47.23- 47.24.

If a child has a physical, psychological or emotional condition requiring parental care, either parent is entitled to an additional five weeks of unpaid leave.

SFU Faculty top-up benefits and timelines

 

Benefits with waiting period (usually served by birth mother):

Benefits without waiting period:

Standard Leave

(52 weeks)

Week 1 (1 week waiting period): 95% of salary

Week 2-35: 95% of salary less the maximum EI benefit that may be paid

Weeks 36-52: will be unpaid from SFU.

Week 1-35: 95% of salary less the maximum EI benefit that may be paid

Weeks 36-52: will be unpaid from SFU.

 

 

Extended Leave

(78 weeks)

 

Week 1 (1 week waiting period): 95% of salary

Week 2-35: 95% of salary less the maximum EI benefit that may be paid

Weeks 36-78: will be unpaid from SFU.

 

Week 1-35: 95% of salary less the maximum EI benefit that may be paid

Weeks 36-78: will be unpaid from SFU.

Shared Leave

(where both parents are SFU employees)

Maximum 52 weeks of combined paid leave (one parent must serve 1 week waiting period)

Additional unpaid leave as per Article 47.24

 

Timeline

Time

Faculty Member

SFU

3 MONTHS BEFORE START OF LEAVE

Complete the Parental Leave Application Form

Chair/Director and 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

N/A

Payroll sends ROE to EI

AFTER BIRTH or adoption

If child arrives at a different date indicated on the EI application, notify EI of actual birth date.

N/A

Add new family member to your benefits by completing the PBC Change Form

N/A

If a child has a physical, psychological or emotional condition requiring parental care, either parent is entitled to an additional five weeks of unpaid leave. You can request an additional five weeks of unpaid parental leave by sending the medical certificate to your Chair/Dean or Wellness.

Chair/Director or Dean or Wellness will notify FR of additional 5 weeks in writing

DURING LEAVE

N/A

Office of the Vice-President Academic will let tenure track faculty know they may request a contract extenxion and where applicable, a delay in tenure consideration for one year (Article 30.14)

Benefits while on leave

Benefits coverage will be maintained on the same basis as before the leave for all parental leave options, whether paid or unpaid. 

For short-term and recurring limited term members, the unpaid leave and benefits will end as per the date of the contract.  There is no obligation to extend the short-term appointment beyond its original end date (Article 47.28).  

Pensions while on leave

Pension contributions will not be made or taken on the unpaid portion of a parental leave in accordance with the 2019-2022 SFUFA Collective Agreement. Members will have 2 options to “purchase service” from the BC College Pension Plan (BCCPP) for this unpaid time.

  1. Members may make continuous contributions to their pension throughout the leave (must apply within 30 days of start of leave).  SFU will pay for the employer portion of the leave cost if this option chosen.
  2. Member may choose to do nothing at the time and no pension contributions will be made on the unpaid portions of the leave. Member will have up to five years after the leave ends (or within 30 days of termination of employment if earlier) during which to buy service in a one lump sum payment. SFU will also pay for the employer portion of the leave cost if this option chosen.

Please note that whether past service is purchased from the BCCPP or not, SFU will compensate you in accordance with the current Collective Agreement (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2022).

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.

Please see the Service Canada website for more information.

Parental Leave Application Form  (updated Dec 5/18)

Pacific 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 and 47.37)

Contact the Faculty Relations Advisor handling inquiries for your Faculty.