Item 11 - Termination of Employment

For any issues related to termination of employment, consultation must occur with Human Resources.

Exempt staff may be terminated as a result of reorganization or changing requirements for which the employee is not suited, other employment alternatives (e.g. retraining, reassignment) are not available and/or appropriate or other exceptional circumstances where clear just cause for termination does not exist.

Where termination occurs for reasons other than just cause, individuals will be treated fairly and reasonable notice (or pay in lieu of notice) will be provided. Appropriate notice periods must be determined with the assistance of Human Resources.

The primary purpose of a notice period (or pay in lieu of notice) is to provide the employee a reasonable bridging period to find new employment or to retire (in the case of long service employees).

When determining appropriate notice periods for exempt staff, the university uses the provisions of the “common law” established and applied by the courts and the provincial employment standards. A number of “common law” factors are considered and will differ from case to case.

Termination severance packages may include additional considerations depending on the reasons for the termination and the individual circumstances of the employee (which include applying the appropriate “common law” factors). In addition, out-placement services and other supports, as applicable, may be offered as part of a package.

The employment of an employee with term status, in a term position, ends automatically upon the expiration of the stated term date, without notice.

 An employee with term status whose term position ends prior to its stated expiration date will be provided with one (1) month notice or pay in lieu of notice.

a) Resignation

An employee shall provide a minimum of one month written notice of intent to resign to their immediate supervisor. The notice period should be in addition to any unused vacation entitlement which may be used or paid out following discussion and agreement with the supervisor, taking into account the operations of the unit.

b) Retirement

An employee who intends to retire must provide notice to their supervisor at least six months prior to the expected date of retirement. While it is not a requirement, normal date of retirement is:

1. The 30^th day of June coinciding with or next following the employee’s 67th birthday for employees under the Academic Pension Plan or
2. The first day of the month immediately following the employee’s 65th birthday for employees under the Non-Academic Pension Plan