Before heading off on holidays, have you taken note of these year-end items?
Paid leave – Christmas closure
Once again, the University will be closed from December 25 - January 1. Continuing members will be paid for December 25 - January 1. Temporary members will be paid for December 25 - January 1 if the last day of your temporary appointment is after Christmas closure.
Use your Professional Development Expense Reimbursement
Professional development reimbursement is a negotiated benefit of $700 per year, up to a maximum carry forward of $3,500.
If you are eligible, claims must arrive by December 31, to Human Resources, to be eligible for that calendar year. Any claims arriving after December 31 will be processed in 2021. Please note that due to COVID-19, there have been changes to reflect the needs of APSA members (See SFU Staff and faculty FAQs and click on How will APSA or APEX professional development funds support remote learning and development?).
Expense forms and an eligible item list can be found on the Support for Learning web page.
To find the balance in your professional development account, go to my.sfu.ca, log in and under "Staff Resources" click on "Professional Development Expenses".
Defer unused vacation time
Section 5.07: “…an employee’s full Vacation Entitlement for a given annual Payroll year may be deferred for one year but must be taken in the next annual Payroll year. Where an employee is unable to take the deferred vacation entitlement in the next annual Payroll year, the deferred vacation will be paid out.”
Please be advised that “off the books” vacation or verbal agreements made with your supervisor about carrying over additional vacation days, are outside of the AD 10 policies and may not be honoured.
Vacation entitlement balance: log in to my.sfu.ca.
SFU COVID-19 for Staff
COVID-19 has affected our workplace, our professional development and SFU health and safety for most of 2020. For updated information from SFU, please visit the FAQs and the staff specific COVID-19 section on SFU's website for the most up-to-date information.
Help during the holidays
Free, 24/7, counselling services are available through the Employee Family and Assistance Program (EFAP).
Call Homewood Solutions at 1-800-663-1142, to set up a face-to-face, over the phone or online counselling appointment.
The program is available to you, your spouse and dependents.