If you have additional questions after reading this FAQ about Winter Break, please contact the FSA office.
What is Winter Break?
Winter Break is a period of time between terms where attendance for work on campus is not required, similar to being on-call in other workplaces. It is not considered vacation, and employees must be available for remote work, or to attend on campus should a need arise. Each Department plans for coverage with consideration to services required, vacations booked, and fair treatment of all in the Department.
Break periods are governed by Article 8.7 of the Collective Agreement, which states:
8.7.1 For Regular and Temporary Instructional Employees, Term, Spring and Winter break periods are not considered vacation periods. Duty allocations during Term, Spring, and Winter break periods shall be decided by each Department, consistent with fair treatment for each Employee within the Department, and any Employee without such assigned duty shall not be required to be in attendance at the Institute.
8.7.1.1 For Regular and Temporary Non-Instructional Employees are entitled to Winter break period as set out in Letter of Understanding RE Winter Break Period Non-Instructional Employees.
Instructional Employees
When is Winter Break?
For instructional employees, it is the period after marks review and before commencement of next term.
How long is Winter Break?
This can vary for instructional employees depending on the conclusion of exams, marks review, and commencement of the next term. Most often it is 5 consecutive days. For this purpose, statutory and general holidays are not considered work days.
Non-Instructional Employees
What is Winter Break for Non-Instructional Employees?
Winter Break for non-instructional employees is guided by this letter of understanding.
An arbitration decision dated June 15, 2001 from Arbitrator Hope with subsequent modifications agreed to in November 2001, and a 2020 Letter of Understanding, establish the provisions of access to Winter Break for non-instructional employees. Departments must have a plan in place for coverage by November 1st of each year.
How long is Winter Break for non-instructional employees?
Five consecutive days.
When is Winter Break?
For non-instructional employees it is the period after marks review and before commencement of next term, if 5 consecutive days are not possible, then days are added preceding the period to make up a total of 5 consecutive days. For this purpose, statutory and general holidays are not considered work days.
What groups of non-instructional employees are covered?
The following is not an exhaustive list, but an example of some of the areas covered by the agreements.
- LTC
- Library
- Student Success
- Applied Research
- Registrar’s Office
- ITS