Earnings, for example, vacation pay, severance pay... made or allocated during the 2-week waiting period will be deducted in the first 3 weeks for which benefit is otherwisepayable following the waiting period. In some instances, the 2-week waiting period maybe waived or deferred, but only under certain circumstances, for example:If you get paid sick leave pay from your employer following your last day worked, thewaiting period may be waived, If parental benefits are being shared by the both parents,only one waiting period needs to be served. For example, if a 2-week waiting period hasalready been served for maternity benefits by the first parent, the second parent claimingparental benefits can have the waiting period deferred. In the event the second parentsubsequently claims regular or sickness benefits after parental benefits, the 2-weekwaiting period would then need to be served. If you receive group insurance payments,you can serve the 2-week waiting period during the last two weeks that these insurancepayments are being paidHow long can you receive maternity <strong>and</strong> parental benefits?A combination of maternity <strong>and</strong> parental benefits can be received up to a combinedmaximum of 50 weeks.You could receive up to a maximum of 65 weeks of combined sickness, maternity <strong>and</strong>parental benefits instead of the normal combined maximum of 50 weeks. In order to beeligible for the increased number of weeks, the following conditions must be met duringyour benefit period: you have not been paid regular or fishing benefits, you have been paidsickness, maternity <strong>and</strong> parental benefits; <strong>and</strong> you have been paid less than the maximumof 15 weeks of sickness benefits or less than 35 weeks of parental benefits.You do not have to fill out reports during maternity <strong>and</strong>/or parental benefits. If you areapplying for maternity <strong>and</strong>/or parental benefits, you do not have to complete reports inorder to receive your payments. To do this, you must sign a declaration of exemption atthe time of applying.In order to get paid: A payment cannot be issued to you without a completed claimant'sreport. If you are applying for maternity <strong>and</strong>/or parental benefits <strong>and</strong> have chosen not tocomplete reports, your payments will be made directly to your bank account with DirectDepositWorking while on maternity, parental <strong>and</strong> sickness benefits: If you work while onmaternity or sickness benefits, your earnings will be deducted dollar for dollar from yourbenefits. On the other h<strong>and</strong>, if you work while on parental benefits you can earn $50 perweek or 25% of your weekly benefits, whichever is higher. Any monies earned above thatamount will be deducted dollar for dollar from your benefits. However, effective December11, 2005, if you are living in one of the 23 participating economic regions, the amount youcan earn while working part-time <strong>and</strong> receiving EI benefits is the greater of $75 or 40 % ofweekly benefits. You must, of course, report any earnings you make while collectingmaternity, sickness or parental benefits. If you chose not to complete reports, you mustdeclare your earnings by calling the telephone information service at 1 800 206-7218, from8:30 am to 4:30 pm, <strong>and</strong> press "0" to speak to a representative.Various types of earnings: Earnings paid or payable by your employer at the end of youremployment or while you are receiving benefits, generally affect payment of your benefits.How much will you receive? The basic benefit rate is 55% of your average insuredearnings up to a maximum amount of $435 per week. Your EI payment is a taxableincome, meaning federal <strong>and</strong> provincial or territorial taxes, if it applies, will be deductedfrom your payment. If your benefit rate is less than $435 <strong>and</strong> you are in a low-incomefamily — net income up to a maximum of $25,921 per year — with children <strong>and</strong> you oryour spouse receive the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) , you could be entitled to theFamily Supplement. The weekly EI payment <strong>and</strong> the number of weeks to be paid remainthe same even if you give birth to more than one child at the same time. At the same timeConfidential <strong>and</strong> Proprietary Information of <strong>GoodLife</strong> <strong>Fitness</strong> Clubs | V16 October 2009 58
you present a claim for maternity benefits, yourself or/<strong>and</strong> partner can ask for parentalbenefits.Termination of a pregnancy: When a pregnancy terminates within the first 19 weeks ofpregnancy, it is considered an illness under EI. If that is the case, sickness benefits maybe paid as long as the qualifying conditions for sickness benefits are met. On the otherh<strong>and</strong>, if the pregnancy terminates in the 20th week or later, the claim for benefits can beconsidered for maternity benefits if the qualifying conditions for maternity benefits are met.Personal Leave of Absence[back to top]Associates on the active payroll with at least 1 year of service working 20 hours or moreper week, may apply for an unpaid personal leave of absence at any time. All requests forpersonal leave are deemed to be for personal reasons <strong>and</strong> may or may not be granted inthe sole discretion of the associate's manager <strong>and</strong>/or Divisional Manager/DepartmentHead._________________________________________________________________________Who can take a Personal Leave of AbsenceRequests for leave will be judged on their merit, by the manager, having regard forindividual circumstances, such as, the purpose of the leave, the performance <strong>and</strong> length ofservice of the associate, the frequency of such requests, <strong>and</strong> the impact of the associate'sabsence on club/department operations. Such leaves, if granted, will be without pay._________________________________________________________________________Health BenefitsPlease contact policies@goodlifefitness.com for further information._________________________________________________________________________VacationPlease contact policies@goodlifefitness.com for further information._________________________________________________________________________Requesting a Leave of AbsenceAssociates must fill out a ‘Leave of Absence Request’ form to give to their manager forapproval, as far in advance of the date of commencement of the requested leave as ispossible. Whenever possible, associates are requested to first use vacation beforerequesting a Personal Leave of Absence.Requests for Personal Leave without pay, of 3 working days or less, may be authorized bythe associate's manager. Requests for Personal Leave without pay, in excess of 3 workingdays, require the approval of both the associate's manager <strong>and</strong> the DivisionalManager/Department Head._________________________________________________________________________Upon return from a Personal LeaveUpon the request of a Personal Leave of Absence, manager’s will decide whether theassociates current position will be held open, or if another position will be made availableto them upon their return from leave.Personal Emergency Leave – Ontario Only[back to top]<strong>GoodLife</strong> associates in Ontario are entitled to job-protected personal emergency leave,without pay, to a maximum of 10 days each calendar year for personal illness, injury ormedical emergency or for the death, illness, injury, medical emergency or urgent matterrelating to:1. A spouse or same sex partner (includes both married <strong>and</strong> unmarried)2. A parent, step-parent, foster parent, child, step-child, foster child, gr<strong>and</strong>parent, stepgr<strong>and</strong>parent, gr<strong>and</strong>child or step-gr<strong>and</strong>child of the associate or the associate'sspouse or same sex partner3. The spouse or same sex partner of an associate’s child4. A brother, sister, step-brother/sister, half-brother/sisterConfidential <strong>and</strong> Proprietary Information of <strong>GoodLife</strong> <strong>Fitness</strong> Clubs | V16 October 2009 59