kaiservbismarck said:
I haven't asked (yet) but I'm sure my employer won't give me 2 months off to go to training.
Any thoughts? Advice?
Eligibility for Military Leave is not determined by department, job classification or union affilliation.
Military Leave is Corporate Policy. All city employees are treated equally in the Policy.
Toronto gives everyone two weeks Leave With Pay LWP every year for military service. Your benefits are not affected when on Military Leave. Everything continues the same as if you were still on the job.
Check both your Collective Agreement ( IAFF, I assume ) and Corporate policy under "Military Leave".
There's also Earned Deferred Leave and Education Leave requests. Military Leave would receive the same consideration.
As a firefighter, your department should be willing and able to accomodate shift change requests for Military Leave. It sounds like you work 10/14? TFS works 24 hour tours.
You may also wish to consider a Leave No Pay LNP for your BMQ and trade training.
Hamilton, ON compared to Calgary, Alberta.
Military Leave for Reservists: COMPARISON OF POLICIES AND LEGISLATION":
http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/EBAD289C-D516-4812-A979-80A4CD0ADED7/0/May21HUR08007_InformationReport_MilitaryLeavePolicy_May132008.pdf
"The City of Calgary’s Policy":
The Province of Alberta does not have legislation governing military leaves.
Calgary’s policy provides for the following for permanent full-time and permanent parttime
employees:
a. “Top-up” of military pay for leaves up to twenty-four (24) months (employee
continues on full salary during the leave and remits the military pay to the City);
b. Harmonization of health and dental benefits for the period of the leave;
c. Employer’s contribution to pension for the period of the leave;
d. “Top-up” for the purposes of short-term and long term disability; and
e. Reimbursement of premiums if the reservist purchases life insurance through the
Government of Canada plan for military personnel, to a maximum of 2 times the
employee’s salary to the nearest $1,000.
Calgary’s policy covers all military leaves no matter the purpose, including military
training activities or duties not connected to deployment.
For other than permanent full-time or permanent part-time employees, the policy
provides:
a. A leave of absence without pay for up to twenty-four (24) months;
b. Continuation of the employer’s premium cost for health and dental benefits for
the period of the leave;
c. Reimbursement of the employer’s contribution to the employee’s pension plan,
up to a period of twelve (12) months, if the employee immediately buys back
pensionable service upon return from leave.
Here is an example for anyone interested in military leave policies.
Oakville, ON:
http://www.oakville.ca/HR-MNG-004-002.htm