Disability Separation A. An employee with permanent status may be separated from service when the Employer determines that the employee is unable to perform the essential functions of the employee’s position due to a mental, sensory, or physical disability, which cannot be reasonably accommodated. Determinations of disability may be made by the Employer based on an employee’s written request for disability separation or after obtaining a written statement from a licensed physician or licensed mental health professional. The Employer can require an employee to obtain a medical examination, at Employer expense, from a licensed physician or licensed mental health professional of the Employer’s choice. Evidence may be requested from the licensed physician or licensed mental health professional regarding the employee’s limitations.
B. When the Employer has medical documentation of the employee’s disability and has determined that the employee cannot be reasonably accommodated in any available position for which they qualify, or the employee requests separation due to disability, the Employer may immediately separate the employee.
C. The Employer will inform the employee in writing of the option to apply to return to employment prior to their separation due to disability. The Employer will provide assistance to individuals seeking reemployment under this Article for two (2) years. If reemployed, upon successful completion of the employee’s probationary period, the time between separation and reemployment will be treated as leave without pay and will not be considered a break in service.
D. A disability separation is not a disciplinary action. Disability separation at the employee’s request is not subject to the grievance procedure in Article 30.
Long Term Disability (income replacement during a qualifying disability equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of basic monthly earnings to the established maximum following a one hundred and twenty (120) working day elimination period);
Disability If, as a result of Employee's incapacity due to physical or mental illness, Employee shall have been absent from his duties hereunder on a full-time basis for one hundred eighty (180) calendar days in the aggregate in any twelve (12) month period, the Company may terminate Employee's employment hereunder. During any period that Employee fails to perform his duties hereunder as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness, Employee shall continue to receive his accrued and unpaid Base Salary and accrued and unpaid target bonus, prorated for the number of days actually employed in the then current calendar year, until Employee's employment is terminated due to disability in accordance with this Subparagraph (c) or until Employee terminates his employment in accordance with Subparagraph (e)(ii) or (f), if earlier. All unvested stock options and stock-based grants shall immediately vest and become exercisable or nonforfeitable, and Employee shall have such period of time to exercise the stock options as is provided in the Stock Option Plan and agreements with Employee pursuant thereto. For a period of eighteen (18) months following the Date of Termination and subject to the Employee's continued copayment of premium amounts, the Employee, Employee's spouse and dependents shall continue to participate in the Company's health insurance plan upon the same terms and conditions in effect on the Date of Termination, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the continuation of health benefits under this Subparagraph shall reduce and count against Employee's rights under COBRA. In addition to the foregoing, any payments to which Employee may be entitled under any employee benefit plan shall also be paid in accordance with the terms of such plan or arrangement. Such payments, in the aggregate, shall fully discharge the Company's obligations hereunder.
Long-Term Disability (Employee Paid Plans)
a) All permanent Teachers shall participate in the long-term disability plan (LTD Plan) as a condition of employment, subject to the terms of the LTD plan.
b) The Board shall cooperate in the administration of the LTD Plan. It is understood that administration means that the Board will co-operate with the enrolment and deduction of premiums and provide available necessary data to the insurer, upon request. The Board will remit premiums collected to the carrier on behalf of the Teachers.
c) Where the plan administrator implements changes in the terms and conditions of the LTD Plan or the selection of an insurance carrier, the Board shall, for administrative purposes, be advised of changes at least thirty (30) days prior to the date the changes are to be implemented.
Disability Plan The City and the Union agree to the following changes to the Medium Term Disability (MTD) and Long Term Disability Plans as defined in Schedule “J”, Letter of Intent (all other provisions of Schedule “J” Letter of Intent continue to apply):
a) Conditions of Payment Medium Term Disability as defined percentages of regular gross earnings for MTD benefits for any claim and continuing for a maximum period of 50 weeks as specified below: Effective July 1, 2013 95% of regular gross earnings all MTD hours Effective Jan. 1, 2015 90% of regular gross earnings all MTD hours Effective January 1, 2013, Long Term Disability at 67% of regular gross earnings to a maximum benefit of $4,500 per month commencing on the expiry of MTD (52 weeks from date of disability); such benefit to be indexed annually in accordance with annual general increases in wage rates for the appropriate group from which the claimant is a member. In all instances, benefits cease on the employee ceasing to be disabled, death, or the employee’s minimum retirement age (60 for all employees), or that age when the employee can retire without reduction in his/her accrued pension benefit (55 and 35 years’ service for all employees). The maximum benefit payment period is twelve (12) years from the commencement of disability and is inclusive of Short Term Sick Leave, Medium Term Disability and Long Term Disability Benefits. Existing LTD claims will be “grandfathered”. If an employee in receipt of Short Term Sick Leave or Medium Term Disability returns to full-time employment then the disability will be considered as a new disability if it occurs one hundred and twenty (120) or more calendar days after he/she has returned to work.
b) Disabled Employees The City and the Union recognize that certain employees who are physically disabled are unable to continue in their regular position. Such employees may be able to work on a part-time or full-time basis in light work positions. The City and the Union encourage a cooperative effort between Management and Union representatives and the Burnaby Municipal Benefit Society and have agreed to form a committee to review the cases of such employees. The four-member committee shall consist of the Director of Human Resources, the Department Head of the Department in which the affected employee is currently employed, the President - Local 23, and the Chairman of the Union Division in which the affected employee is currently a member, or their designates; and any decisions of the committee must be unanimous. The committee may decide that a disabled employee be placed in a light duty position, as agreed to by the committee; however, any resulting increase in staff budget costs is subject to the approval of the City Manager.
