VCH supports new extended parental leave option

We are thrilled to support the new opportunity offered through EI to provide staff with the choice to take standard parental leave (35 weeks) or the new extended parental leave (61 weeks).

We know that spending time with a growing family is critical, for both mothers and fathers, and are supportive of those wishing to take the extended parental leave to make the most of this special time. This also provides a new opportunity for more dads to take paternity leave, as both parents can now share the extended leave time of 18 months.

Applying for Parental Leave

• If you are seeking maternity/parental leave, please ensure you provide your manager with as much notice as possible and confirm whether you are taking the regular or extended parental leave. This will ensure managers can best support you prior to your leave and find coverage for your role, if needed.
• Your manager will support and approve your leave request for either option and confirm your return to work date.
• Additional steps, such as reviewing the EI guidelines and applying for EI benefits, are outlined in the Union and Excluded Maternity/Parental and Adoption Leave Guides (internal link).
• Please note there are some impacts to top-up amounts that VCH provides if you choose the extended leave option (see guidelines below).

Tips for planning ahead

Be sure to take time to review the guides referenced above. Page two provides an overview of ‘Understanding Your Next Steps,’ starting at three months before you go on leave. At this time, it is also suggested to start reviewing the Employment Insurance (EI) Maternity and Parental Benefits guidelines and application processes provided through the Federal Government to ensure you have everything ready for when you apply for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits after your baby has arrived. Once you have submitted your EI claim, Service Canada will contact VCH for confirmation and payroll will generate a Record of Employment (ROE) which will be submitted directly to EI on your behalf. Page two of the guide also outlines how you can add your baby to your benefits during your leave.

Extended parental leave guidelines

The following new guidelines apply for employees who wish to take the new extended parental leave (61 weeks):

• VCH provides health coverage and accrue of benefits for the first 35 weeks with an option to self-pay for benefit coverage for the remaining 26 weeks you will be off.
• FBA and Excluded staff are eligible to receive a Supplemental Earnings Benefit (SEB top-up) during the first 10-weeks of parental leave. The amount of top-up VCH will provide will remain the same for an extended parental leave as compared to the standard parental leave. As the EI benefit for an extended parental leave is lower (33%), this means that FBA and Excluded staff taking extended parental leaves will not be topped-up to 75% of earnings.
• Depending on your collective agreement: accrual of vacation, length of service (impacting vacation entitlement, severance eligibility, and increment progression), and seniority may be impacted during the extended portion of a parental leave (i.e. weeks 35-61). Please refer to the reference guides below for more information.

Resources to help you

For more information on maternity and parental leave, please refer to the Union and Excluded Maternity/Parental and Adoption Leave Guides (internal link). We hope you find this information helpful, and know that your manager will be supportive should you choose take the new extended leave.

If you have any questions about parental leave, please contact Employee Records and Benefits at employeeRBsupport@hssbc.ca or 604-297-8683.