An employee who has been absent on account of sickness disability, as outlined in Corporate Policy 209.05, will normally be paid sick leave benefits for authorized absences incurred from and after the end of the first three (3) months of service in accordance with his/her available sick leave credits. If requested by his/her Manager, the employee must submit to the Disability Management Group a Physician's Certificate of Disability for Duty (Form 1109) completed by his/her doctor for any period of absence.

The following table shows, in the right hand column, the maximum number of days absence due to sickness for which the Company will, subject to the provisions of this Article, pay full wages to an employee in the year of his/her net credited service which is shown in the left hand column, after first deducting any previous days for which he/she has received sick leave benefits from the Company:

NOTE: The "Accumulation" will be calculated as of the first day of the period for which the sick credits are to be granted, e.g., 1st day of the 4th year - 12 days full pay – Total – 45 days full pay.

For more than ten (10) years of service, one hundred and seventy-six (176) days full pay.

Paid sick leave granted to an employee during his/her period of service with the Company will be charged against and deducted from his/her accumulated credits.

An employee on return from sick leave, shall begin to accrue on a pro-rated basis, up to twenty-two (22) days sick leave to be credited on the anniversary of his/her Net Credited Service date.

Every year thereafter on the anniversary of his/her Net Credited Service date, providing there was no paid sick leave, the employee would accumulate credits up to twenty-two (22) days for each year of service, but not to exceed the maximum of one hundred and seventy-six (176) days as above provided.

No deduction from an employee's sick leave credits shall be made in respect of absence on a statutory holiday for which the employee is entitled to be paid.

An employee shall be given full sick leave credit information through his/her normal managerial channels.An employee can access full sick leave credit information by accessing Employee Self Serve (ESS).

When an employee expects to be or is absent from work for any reason, he/she is expected to notify his/her Manager prior to the starting time for his/her tour of duty, indicating the reason for the absence, on:

(a) each day of absence if date of return is unknown; or

(b) the first day of absence if date of return is known.

Where reasonably practicable, the employee shall notify his/her Manager of his/her return to work, the day prior to his/her return.

Unreported absence, absence without satisfactory reason or abuse shall be grounds for disqualification from benefits and/or disciplinary action. The Company will consider any action based on the merits of each individual case.

An employee absent from work due to sickness disability who is on Company authorized sick absence, whether paid or unpaid, shall retain service rights upon return to employment, provided such employee is in physically fit condition to resume his/her former duties.

Paid sick leave granted to employees during their period of service with the Company will be charged against and deducted from their accumulated sick credits on the basis of half days or full days. The following formula shall be used in determining the amount of sick absence to be charged.

0 to 2 hours – no sick absence charged

Over 2 hours to 5 hours – Half day absence charged.

Over 5 hours per day – One day absence charged.

Sick leave which is unpaid will be determined on the same formula as paid sick leave.

In cases where the less than two (2) hour time period is being abused, employees may have sick absence accumulated. Such time will be accumulated in periods of one half day and will be charged against the employee's sick leave. When the Company decides to accumulate such time, it shall notify the employee in writing with a copy to the Union.