Guidelines on staff time off for vaccination

Dear colleagues,

The Government of Québec has introduced a planned approach to providing information and clinics for vaccinations against the H1N1 influenza. More information about the schedule for clinics, including location and how to identify if you are a person at risk can be found at: www.pandemiequebec.gouv.qc.ca

To assist employees who would like to receive the H1N1 vaccination, the university will, exceptionally, allow employees up to 3 hours of release time away from work.

Staff members please note this time away from work must be pre-approved by your manager/supervisor. Should additional time or other time away from work be required, please contact your manager/supervisor and refer to the leave provisions contained in the applicable collective agreement and the Human Resources policies. All leave away from work must be approved by managers/supervisors.

The university takes very seriously the health of employees. We strongly encourage you to consult the above website and the university website www.concordia.ca/H1N1 to keep current with measures you can take to protect yourself, your colleagues, community members and your family, and developments regarding H1N1 influenza.

Please see the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ below to assist in understanding how this leave time will be managed.

Should you have any questions, please contact Nicole Freeman, Human Resources Data Coordinator at extension 3678, or George Spanos, Human Resources Data Coordinator, extension 3672, with any questions.

Sincerely,

Carolina Willsher
Associate Vice-President, Human Resources

FAQ

To assist with the administration of the release time for employees who would like to receive the H1N1 vaccination, please refer to the list of frequently asked questions below:

A: For employees who want to receive the H1N1 vaccination, please consult the schedule of H1N1 Vaccination clinics issued by the Province of Quebec for times and locations of clinics. You may not need to be away from work at all. However, should the schedule be such that you must absent yourself in order to access a clinic, exceptionally the university will allow employees up to 3 hours of release time away from work in order to attend a clinic to receive the vaccination. This time is in addition to time away from work already provided for in your collective agreement and Human Resources policies.

A: You must speak with your manager/supervisor prior to taking the leave time. Your manager/supervisor must pre-approve the leave.

A: Should you require additional time away from work, please speak with your manager/supervisor and consult the leave provisions contained in the applicable collective agreement and the Human Resources policies. All leave away from work must be approved by managers/supervisors.

A: Employees wishing to receive the H1N1 vaccination are eligible for up to 3 hours of release time on a one time basis only. However this time may, subject to your manager’s approval, be taken in blocks of time of less than 3 hours.

A: The university has agreed to provide up to 3 hours of exceptional release time for employees who would like to receive the H1N1 vaccination themselves. Should employees be required to assist a family member who would like to receive the H1N1 vaccination, you should speak with your manager/supervisor and consult the leave provisions contained in the applicable collective agreement and the Human Resources policies. All leave away from work must be approved by managers/supervisors.

A: The up to 3 hours of release time is for employees who would like to receive the H1N1 vaccination. This leave is exceptional leave for an exceptional circumstance. For employees wishing to receive the seasonal influenza vaccination when it becomes available, please speak with your manager/supervisor and consult the leave provisions of the applicable collective agreement and the Human Resources policies.

A: The University takes very seriously the health of employees and we strongly encourage you to consult the Government of Quebec’s website noted above, as well as the university website www.concordia.ca/H1N1 to keep current with measures you can take to protect yourself, your colleagues, community members and your family and developments regarding H1N1 influenza.