UVic Term Employees – Understanding your rights
Many PEA positions at UVic are term positions. At last count, there were 140 PEA members in term positions. Term employees do not have access to all of the rights and benefits of regular positions at the University.
This is a quick reference to some of the differences between regular and term positions. It is not meant to substitute the more comprehensive and legally binding language in your collective agreement.
Precarity of Employment
Regular positions at UVic have an expectation of continuous employment whereas term positions carry no expectation of employment beyond the expiry of the term.
Term positions are precarious in that they offer little predictability or job security. This kind of work can affect the material and psychological welfare of our members. When your term is finished, you do not receive severance nor are you placed on a recall list.
Probation
Similar to regular positions, term positions are subject to a probationary period of eight months. You can be terminated on probation on the basis of unsuitability for the position. In such a case, the University is required to give one months’ notice of termination. Employees are generally asked to not report to work during this time.
Postings
All vacant positions of more than seven months, excepting leave replacements of 14 months or less, have to be posted for competition. Term employees may be re-appointed to the same position without competition.
Vacation
The vacation entitlement for term employees is fifteen working days per year. Term employees who work continuously for more than one year will earn, and will be credited with, the same vacation as regular staff* after completion of the first continuous year of service.
*The vacation entitlement for regular staff members is twenty-two working days in the first through to the fifth year of continuous service; twenty-three working days in the sixth through to the tenth year of continuous service; and twenty-five working days for all subsequent years of service.
Where a term employee is appointed as a regular staff without a break in service, the vacation entitlement will be calculated from the starting date of service. Entitlements will be prorated for part-time and/or part-year service.
Sick Leave
Full-time term employees are entitled to one and one-half days of paid sick leave per month. Accumulated sick leave may not be carried over from term to term unless the terms are contiguous.
Part-time term employees working at least half-time are entitled to sick leave pro-rated on the basis on one and one-half days per month.
A staff member who has been employed on the basis of more than three years of contiguous term appointments, shall be entitled to sick leave on the same basis as set out for regular staff members (i.e., up to six months paid sick leave).
Medical and Extended Health Benefits Plans and Dental, Basic Group Life, Optional Group Life
A term employee holding a term appointment for a minimum of three months at 0.50 FTE or more is eligible, on a voluntary basis, to enroll in the Medical and Extended Health Benefits Plans effective from the first of the month following appointment, and in the Dental, Basic Group Life, Optional Group Life after twelve months of continuous service. Term staff who choose to enroll are required to stay in these Plans until the end of their term or contiguous terms on the same cost sharing basis as regular staff members.
Money Purchase Pension Plan
A staff member holding a term appointment for a minimum of three months at 0.50 FTE or more is eligible, on a voluntary basis, to enroll in the Money Purchase Pension Plan after twelve months of continuous service. Term staff do not have access to University’s combination pension plan.
Term staff who choose to enroll in the Money Purchase Pension Plan are required to stay in the Plan until the end of their term or contiguous terms. Term staff contribute 3% of basic regular salary up to the Canada Pension Plan’s Yearly Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE), and 5% of basic regular salary in excess of the YMPE. The University contributes 8.37% of basic regular salary up to the YMPE and 10% of basic regular salary in excess of the YMPE.
Professional Development
Term employees do not have access to professional development funds.
Long Term Disability Insurance
Term employees do not have access to long term disability insurance.
Salary Adjustment
Salary adjustment such as general wage increases, progression adjustments and performance adjustments apply to term employees.
Termination of Term Appointments
The University may, in its sole discretion, terminate a term appointment prior to the end of the stated term, with two months written notice. Term employees do not have rights to layoff language including severance or recall.
Establishment of regular positions
As a general practice, term appointments shall not be used to supplant regular appointments for work of a continuing rather than a term-certain nature. Where a position has been established on a single or recurring term basis for a period of three years, the position shall become a regular position and filled with a regular appointment at the end of the three year period unless there is no further funding for the position or the University determines that the position is no longer required. This provision will not apply where a staff member is replacing a regular staff member on an approved absence. Please note that it is the position and not the person that triggers the regularization of a position.
Regular versus full time
Term positions can be full or part-time. Entitlements are generally prorated for part-time service.
Recreational Facilities
Term employees can purchase base memberships and add-ons ranging from $270 to $400 per term depending on the range of access.
Full-time regular employees are eligible to access recreational facilities at McKinnon and ISC as part of their employment compensation and benefits. The Vikes FIT pass providing access to the CARSA fitness and weight centre will cost $60 per term. The Vikes All-In pass for $210 per term includes access to the Peninsula Co-op Climbing Centre.
Your union – The Professional Employees Association
Within in our union, no distinctions are made between term and regular employees. A PEA member is a PEA member. You have access to all of the union’s resources and you can fully participate in the union.
The PEA servicing model provides all members with direct access to their local reps, the PEA chapter executive and their labour relations officer. Members should feel free at any time to connect with us about issues that arise, questions or feedback. You are welcome to make confidential inquiries.
