Illness or injury
When you experience an injury or illness that prevents you from working, UVic has provisions to support you during your recovery and return to work. This includes sick leave, return to work planning, Long Term Disability and medical accommodation processes.
Consult your Collective Agreement for specific information on leave provisions for your employee group.
If at any time you have questions or concerns regarding sick leave, return to work or medical accommodation, you are encouraged to contact your supervisor, Work Life Consultant, or union representative.
Sick leave
If you are sick and unable to come to work, you must make every reasonable effort to contact your supervisor or manager directly at their earliest opportunity and provide an expected date of return.
Depending on the expected length of absence, your supervisor or manager may require a physician's certificate or connect with a Work Life Consultant for support.
Read through the following prompts for more information about sick leave processes.
Sick leave provisions are outlined in your Collective Agreement and summarized on the "Leaves and vacation" page of this website.
CUPE 917, CUPE 951 and Exempt Support employees may apply to the sick benefit bank as needed for additional sick time. Contact your union representative for more information.
Employees and departments are responsible for reporting and tracking sick time. Check with your supervisor if you have questions about your sick leave balance.
If you have exhausted your sick leave entitlements, you may use vacation, compensatory time off (CTO) or personal sick leave surplus days to remain on full salary.
If you have no entitlements remaining, you can apply for . You will require a record of employment (ROE) for your EI application. Contact your supervisor to complete a Position Status Change Request (PSCR) for an ROE to be issued.
CUPE 4163 staff without sick leave accrual may, with a supervisor's approval, exchange the time with another TA/Sessional or make up the lost time.
Medical documentation may be required at any time in case of illness or injury. Your supervisor or Work Life Consultant will let you know if/when this is needed.
Medical documentation completed by your treating physician or family doctor typically confirms:
- your absence is due to illness or injury
- the functional impact of your illness or injury, where applicable
- prognosis for return to work or next medical reassessment date
- if a return to work is possible, what modifications are needed for the workplace or tasks
Physician's certificates can be submitted to your supervisor or Work Life Consultant. If submitted to the WLC, they will inform your supervisor with only the prognosis for return to work and relevant functional limitations impacting you in the workplace.
Return to work
When you have the capacity to return to work following a medical absence, ensure you have your doctor complete the Physician's Certificate to document their findings and recommendations:
- when you are able to return to work
- any functional limitations and modifications to hours and/or duties
- if you are unable to return to work, estimated duration of absence and next assessment date
When returning to work, you will establish a plan with your supervisor. A Work Life Consultant and union representative may also be involved to assist in the development of a safe and sustainable return to work plan.
Long Term Disability (LTD)
Long Term Disability (LTD) is a sick leave insurance that covers a percentage of your wage loss after you have been disabled from work for more than 6 months. After 3 months of sick leave, it is our practice to initiate an application to LTD benefits through Pacific Blue Cross.
UVic has two LTD plans that cover eligible employees from the following groups:
Faculty
Librarians
PEA
ME
Executive
Agency Managed employees
CUPE 917
CUPE 951
CUPE 4163
Exempt Support
All Long Term Disability applications are supported by your UVic Work Life Consultant.
The HR Manager SharePoint site has excellent resources for managers regarding the LTD process. This may be helpful for employees to review as well.
LTD Trust
The LTD Trust was established in 2007 to manage the ASO LTD plan. The Board of Trustees have responsibility for the administration and overall management of the plan as outlined in the Trust Agreement between the university and the Trust.
The LTD Trustees consist of three persons appointed by the University and three other persons:
- one nominated by the executive of the Faculty Association
- one nominated by the executive of the 樱花影视 chapter of the Professional Employees Association (PEA)
- one elected by a vote of the Management Excluded (ME) employees of the University.
The Board of Trustees currently consists of the six following members:
- Kane Kilbey (Chair) - ex officio
- Janice Johnson - ex officio
- Mia Maki - ex officio
- John Foxgord - PEA nominee
- Chris Auld - Faculty Association nominee
- Tine Lathouwers - ME nominee
A broad range of Trustees from different backgrounds is desirable. All Trustees should have solid financial acumen, interpersonal and communication skills. Some may have backgrounds in finance or economics, while the majority will be from other disciplines with an interest in benefits and/or investments. It is expected that Member Trustees have been active in educating themselves on their own entitlements under the Plan and have some experience in reviewing benefit provisions and investment results.
Trustees must be willing to devote time and effort to think creatively about issues throughout the duration of their term. Preparation for meetings is essential and includes reviewing material distributed with agendas and asking questions of advisors or other Trustees for clarification of any items being discussed.
The Trustees have responsibility for the administration and overall management of the Plan as outlined in the Trust Agreement between the University and the Trust. The Board of Trustees meets approximately four times each year. Duties of the Trustees include:
- maintaining an adequate reserve for the payment of future reimbursement sums to the benefit carrier, and for future administration expenses reasonably anticipated as likely to be incurred;
- ensuring that actuarial valuations are undertaken;
- determining the contribution rate, as guided by the Funding Policy and in light of the latest actuarial valuation and informing the Board of Governers of the rate;
- receiving from the university all LTD deductions from qualified employees' salaries;
- authorizing and directing monthly payment to the benefit carrier for the cost of LTD claims;
- investing and re-investing Trust fund monies remaining after reimbursement of the benefit carrier, otherwise known as reserve monies;
- retaining such investment, legal, actuarial or other expertise or assistance as considered necessary or appropriate.
Fiduciary obligation requires each Trustee act in the best interests of the members of the Plan and act independently in decision-making. Each Trustee must exercise the care, diligence and skill set that a person of ordinary prudence would exercise when dealing with the property of another person.
| Plan statistic | Amount |
|---|---|
| Number of plan members | 2102 |
| Number of active claims | 75 |
| Total amount of benefits paid | $5,147,277 |
| Member contributions | $7,466,906 |
| Market value of investments | $25,293,380 |
| Gross investment income | $1,829,546 |
| One-year plan investment return | 8.05% |
| One-year investment benchmark | 7.65% |
| Operating expenses |
$351,916 |
| Net assets available for benefits |
$25,699,021 |
| Liabilities for future benefits |
$38,184,159 |
| Funded ratio |
67% |
- Annual Report 2025
- Annual Report 2024
- Annual Report 2023
- Annual Report 2022
- Annual Report 2021
- Annual Report 2020
- Annual Report 2019
For annual reports prior to 2019, please contact Human Resources
The LTD Plan’s annual financial statements are prepared by the Accounting Office of the 樱花影视 and audited by the accounting firm of Grant Thornton LLP.
- Financial Statement 2024-25
- Financial Statement 2023-24
- Financial Statement 2022-23
- Financial Statement 2021-22
- Financial Statement 2020-21
- Financial Statement 2019-20
- Financial Statement 2018-19
For Financial Statements prior to 2019, please contact Human Resources.
WorkSafeBC modified duties planning
If you experience a workplace injury that requires medical attention from a physician or health care provider, a WorkSafeBC (WSBC) claim will likely be submitted. Report your injury immediately to your supervisor to ensure you have documented your injury appropriately.
Modified duties planning
Expect your supervisor to offer modified duties that are appropriate for your capabilities. Discuss with your physician or health care provider your capability to participate in modified duties. Modifications may include:
- reducing hours of work
- limiting specific movements
- limiting specific duties
Your health care provider should document your capabilities using the Functional Capabilities Form (FCF). If there is a cost associated with the completion of this documentation, you will be reimbursed by your department, with receipt of payment. Submit the FCF to your supervisor.
You will work with your supervisor to develop a Modified Duties Plan. A Work Life Consultant and a union representative may also assist in developing the plan. As you recover at work, check in frequently and report how the plan is or is not working to support your recovery.