Dear Employees,
As we head into a new calendar year, our team has received many questions with regards to sick time. Below, we have summarized a variety of frequently asked questions and their responses:
Q:What is the call-in procedure to report being sick?
A: An employee who is scheduled to work and is unable to do so due to illness or injury, shall notify the Employer at least three (3) hours before the first scheduled visit of the workday. In all instances, employees should attempt to provide as much absence notification as possible when they are going to be absent. Please call 416-635-2860 when calling in sick (as this central line is monitored 24/7) and ensure you are speaking to someone live.
**Please note, if you are sending in a medical note, you must still call 416-635-2860 and report your absence to a live person. Medical notes can be sent via fax to 416-635-1692.
Q:As a PSW, I would like the ability to track how many hours I have worked to make sure that I am on track to reaching 1300 hours. Can this feature be added to the mobile phone?
A: Per your collective agreement, you are eligible for full-time status if you complete 1300 hours within the calendar year. HR is working with IT to provide this information on the mobile phone in the coming months. In the meantime, to request the status of your current hours please contact Human Resources at 416-635-2900 ext. 263.
Q:What are banked sick hours?
A: All full time PSWs and Homemakers are entitled to 51 hours of paid sick time per calendar year that can be transferred into a sick time bank to a maximum of 200 hours as per the collective agreement. You will not lose your annual allotment of sick time if you do not use it. These hours will be transferred to your sick bank which can be used for medical emergencies such as unexpected injuries, surgery and recovery time.
Q:How many hours of sick time can I be paid out per day?
A: Paid sick time is determined based on your work schedule. Full time employees can receive a maximum payment of 7 sick hours per day. Part time employees can receive a maximum payment of 3.5 sick hours per day.
Q:When can the employer ask for a doctor’s note?
A: As per Circle of Care’s Sick Leave Policy A.03.49., absence from work due to illness in excess of three (3) days must be supported by a doctor’s note. Medical notes are also required if an employee is absent from work due to illness/injury on their scheduled day of work before, during, or after a statutory holiday. If a Supervisor/Manager has reason to suspect an absence is not legitimate (i.e. pattern of unexplained absences) the employee may be required to produce a doctor’s note in order to qualify for paid sick leave even if the absence is less than three (3) days.
Q:Who pays for a doctor’s note?
A: The cost for a doctor’s note is the sole responsibility of the employee.
Q: Can I use sick time for medical appointments?
A: Sick leave is to be used when you are ill. It is not to be used for arranging medical appointments in advance. Here are some examples of appropriate and inappropriate use of sick time:
| Appropriate Use of Sick Time | Inappropriate Use of Sick Time |
| The employee is ill (flu, cold, headache) | Your child or another family member is ill |
| The employee is injured | Attending medical appointments or dental appointments |
| The employee requires surgery and/or recovery time | Waiting for a repairman or a babysitter |
| The employee is having a medical personal emergency | Heavy snow or very cold/hot weather |
| Your request for vacation or statutory holiday was not approved |
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly,
Kind regards,
Kai Svirida
Health, Safety and Wellness Coordinator
416-635-2900 x263