Under Canada Labour Code Part III, employees are entitled to FR (Family Responsibility) Days. Unused FR days do not carry over from year to year.
ENTITLEMENT BY HOURS:
48 Hours for Full-Time Employees
24 Hours for Part-Time Employees
Should an employee have picked up an additional shift on a day where Family Responsibility Leave is being used, the corresponding hours of that shift will also be deducted from Family Responsibility Leave hours.
ESS CODING:
ESS CODE: FR (Family responsibility leave Paid)
ESS CODE: FRU (Family responsibility leave Unpaid)
WHEN CAN I USE THE FR DAYS?
A. Carrying out responsibilities related to the health or care of any of their family members (Spouse, Parents, Children, Sister, Brother, Grandparents etc…);
*For the purpose of Sections 174.1 & 206.6 (1) b), carrying out responsibilities related to the health or care of any of their family members would include activities such as but not limited to:
– Accompanying the family member to an appointment with a health care practitioner
– Accompanying the family member to a surgery
– Accompanying the family member to the hospital or other medical institutions (i.e. labs, clinics) to undergo scheduled medical tests
– Picking up the family member from school due to an illness, injury or medical emergency
– Taking care of a young child for a day following an unexpected school or day care closure
– Taking care of a sick or injured family member at home
– Making arrangements for a family member’s long-term care
– Helping move an elderly family member into a more suitable residence
– ***Purchasing medications or medical equipment for the family member
The following activities would not qualify: attending a family social gathering, walking the dog, buying groceries or watering the plants of a family member, helping with a family member’s wedding arrangements, dealing with non urgent legal issues (e.g. wills, powers of attorney, do not resuscitate orders) for the family member and picking up mail, going to the bank or paying bills for the family member.
B. Carrying out responsibilities related to the education of any of their family members who are under 18 years of age;
*For the purpose of section 174.1 and paragraph 206.6 (1) (c), carrying out responsibilities related to the education of any of their family members who are under 18 years of age would include activities such as but not limited to:
– Attending parent-teacher interviews and meetings
– Meeting with education specialists to optimize the child’s development
– Meeting with a school counsellor or principal to discuss behavioural challenges at school
– Accompanying a student with special needs to ensure he or she can participate in an educational activity
– Attending a school orientation or registration meeting
– Taking care of a young child for a day following an unexpected school or day care closure. (Winter: Snow day school closure)
The following activities would not qualify: attending a school-related performance, accompanying a child on a school recreational activity or excursion, accompanying an older child for their first day at school, bringing a child to a community art class or sporting activity or helping a family member study for an exam.
C. Addressing any urgent matter concerning themselves or their family members;
*The situation must require the employee’s immediate action or attention in order to avoid significant negative consequences, such as dealing with;
– Flooding or a fire at home
– Dealing with the aftermath of a serious car accident
– Providing assistance to the police as a witness to a crime
– Waiting at home for a technician to perform urgent furnace work (during winter)
– Helping locate a family member who had just been reported as having disappeared.
The following activities would not be deemed urgent matters: attending a graduation ceremony, waiting at home for a non-essential service call (e.g. cable installation), meeting with a real estate or mortgage agent as part of a house sale/purchase, taking advantage of a sales event or arriving in time for a family member’s surprise birthday party.
D. Attending their citizenship ceremony under the Citizenship Act
Attending your own citizenship ceremony.
E. Discontinued policy
*DEC 13 2022 – FR Day no longer allow for COVID-19 vaccination/booster*
COVID-19 Vaccination/Booster and Monkey Pox Vaccination will no longer be eligible for FR day. The company has discontinued offering FR day for all vaccination appointments.
HOW TO APPLY FOR FR DAY:
Please request a family responsibility day by entering all the information on the online form. You must answer all questions to submit the form. Please note that it may take up to 8 hours to process your request. You will receive an approval or denial message directly to your Air Canada email address.
If your request is an emergency and you’re scheduled to start work within 2 hours and you require immediate assistance, please contact the Workforce Attendance Manager on shift by calling 1-844-224-0113. Supporting documentation may be requested. You will have 15 days after returning to work to submit your supporting documents to yuler@aircanada.ca.
CAN THE COMPANY REQUEST FOR PROOF?
Yes, the employer may, in writing and no later than 15 days after an employee’s return to work, request that the employee provide documentation to support the reasons for the leave.
Examples of proof:
– Parking receipt for the the hospital or specialist
– Email from the school with the notice of the school closure (eg. Snow day)
– Repair bill for the furnace, plumbing etc…
– Police report for car accident
RESOURCES:
CANADA LABOUR CODE:
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/PDF/L-2.pdf
GOVERNMENT INTERPRETATIONS OF FR DAY POLICIES:
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/lawsregulations/labour/interpretations-policies/family-responsibilities.html
SEPTEMBER 01 2019 – LEAVE-FAQ-CANADA-LABOUR-CODE-CHANGES:
SEP 01 2019 – AIR CANADA EXAMPLES OF FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY
MARCH 14 2023 – UNIFOR NEWS RELEASE:
https://www.unifor2002.org/News-Room/Air-Canada/AC-Customer-Sales-and-Service-CES/Air-Canada-CSSA-CES-Unifor%E2%80%99s-negotiated-Settlemen
MARCH 10 2023 MOA SICK TIME (MEMORANDIUM OF AGREEMENT):
MAR 10 2023 NEW AIR CANADA 10 SICK DAYS AND FR DAYS