Amateur Athletic Events Policy

Policy Statement

Employees participating in certain amateur athletic events may be provided with leave with pay. This leave may be extended to athletes, coaches and technical sport officials of the games or events, but does not include those employees who volunteer to assist in other capacities.

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Application

This policy applies to all employees of Government departments.

Bargaining unit employees should also consult their respective collective agreements and the provisions of the collective agreement shall prevail.

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Definitions

Amateur Athletic Events: Canada Games, Commonwealth Games, Labrador Games, Newfoundland and Labrador Games, Olympic Games, Pan-American Games, Paralympic Games and the Special Olympics Games.
Technical Sport Official: As defined by Sports Officials Canada, includes a judge, umpire, or referee whose role is to apply and enforce the rules of a sport in a fair and impartial manner.
Participation: Volunteering as an athlete, coach or technical sport official of the games.

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Responsibilities

Departments
It is the responsibility of departments to:

  • support employees who are participating in amateur athletic events by providing leave as per this Policy; and
  • ensure that workplace operations are not impeded by the employee’s absence.

Employees
It is the responsibility of employees to:

  • ensure that their supervisor is given sufficient notice of the leave requested.

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General Provisions

Employees should make the request for leave to participate in amateur athletic events to their supervisor as soon as they are aware that they have been selected to participate.

All requests for leave with pay should be accompanied by a letter of confirmation from the appropriate governing sports body or other agency.

The period of leave with pay will not exceed the total number of working days required to attend and participate in the athletic event.

The maximum leave with pay available to participate in amateur athletic events is six days per year. Employees who require in excess of six days per year shall be required to use annual leave, paid leave, time off in lieu of overtime leave or special leave without pay.

Employees selected to participate in amateur athletic events other than those listed under this Policy will be required to use accumulated annual leave, paid leave, time off in lieu of overtime leave or special leave without pay.

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Last Policy Update: July 25, 2014