Sick Leave Benefits

TMU-paid sick leave benefits provide your regular salary for up to 7 working days if you hold a one-term sessional appointment if you become ill or injured and cannot perform the duties of your regular job.

Please note that the definition of "working day" for CUPE 3904 employees includes days contract lecturers are not actively at work, excluding weekends and holidays.

Coverage details

How do I initiate my sick leave benefits?

If you are unable to attend to your duties for reason of illness, accident, or injury, you must promptly contact your manager to advise of your absence and your probable return to work date.

You may be required to provide your manager with a medical note to substantiate your absence. Your doctor is not required to provide detailed medical information about your condition on the note.

For absences, injuries or health care appointments that are a result of a workplace accident, review Reporting workplace accidents, injuries and incidents.

What is the maximum coverage amount?

Substantiated absences due to illness or injury will be covered up to seven working days if you hold a one-term sessional appointment. For more information, see Exclusions and Conditions.

What happens if I return to work and then am absent due to an unrelated illness or injury? 

If you return to your regular work hours after recovering from one illness or injury, but a new illness or injury occurs, you will be eligible for up to an additional seven working days of sick leave benefits.

What happens after I have exhausted my sick leave benefits?

If you are unable to return to work after your sick leave benefits end, your chair/director should inform HR client services to update your status to Unpaid Leave of Absence. 

What if my earnings change while I am receiving sick leave benefits?

Any appropriate change in your regular salary that occurs while you are receiving sick leave benefits will be reflected in your sick leave benefit amount.

Cost and tax facts

What is the cost for sick leave benefits coverage?

There are no employee-paid premiums. TMU pays for your sick leave benefits.

How do taxes apply to sick leave benefits?

If you are eligible to receive sick leave benefits, they will be paid as a continuation of your salary. There is no change to your tax and other deductions. If you are uncertain if you are eligible for sick leave, contact your HR partner.

Exclusions & Conditions

• The university will recover any overpayment resulting from an unsubstantiated medical absence.
• If you are absent from work for more than 66 consecutive working days for reasons of illness, accident, or injury, the sick leave benefits end at that time. You may then be eligible for long-term disability benefits.
• Your sick leave benefits are no longer available when you end your employment with TMU.