Attendance

Attendance

Trent University depends on employees to report to work regularly and on time. The University is committed to promoting regular attendance, and ensuring that absenteeism is managed.

All OPSEU/EXEMPT employees are required to maintain their attendance records in VIP weekly, no later than Monday at Noon for the previous week. 

Managers have a responsibility to:

• Monitor their staff’s attendance
• Ensure attendance records are complete and accurate in VIP weekly, no later than end of day Monday.
• Notify Human Resources of any absences in excess of four (4) consecutive days, and/or excessive use of sick leaves/absences. For TUFA members, an absence of more than two weeks will require medical documentation.
• Work with Human Resources on a return to work assessment/accommodation plan

Employees have a responsibility to:

• Notify their manager of their absence in advance of the scheduled work time
• Notify their manager of the anticipated duration of the absence
• Notify their manager of any change in the duration of the absence
• Provide appropriate medical documentation to support sick benefits/accommodation
• Work with Human Resources on a return to work assessment/accommodation plan
• Follow procedures in the Collective Agreement and/or policy

Attendance Awareness Program

The Attendance Awareness Program has been implemented to promote regular attendance and ensure absenteeism is managed through consistent and positive non-disciplinary intervention strategies and, as such, addresses innocent or non-culpable absenteeism only. Please contact humanresources@trentu.ca for more information. 

Accommodation Policy 

Within the guidelines of the Ontario Human Rights Code and up to the point of undue hardship, the University is committed to accommodating its employees and job applicants upon request. For more information please contact humanresources@trentu.ca or visit the Policy Library to view the full policy on Accommodation of Employees with Disabilities.

Information Required in an Acceptable Doctor’s Note

If an OPSEU or Exempt employee is absent for more than four (4) consecutive working days, an original Doctor's note on the official stationary of the physician must be provided to support the absence. For TUFA members, an absence of more than two weeks will require medical documentation. The Doctor's note should be forwarded to the Department of Human Resources. If the absence is prolonged (1 month), a Functional Abilities Form or a more detailed Doctor's note must be completed and returned to Human Resources. 

Functional Abilities Form

When returning to work from a prolonged absence (a month or more), an employee must provide a doctor’s note indicating she/he is able to return to work. If an employee is returning to work and cannot assume full duties, the employee must submit a Functional Abilities Form from their doctor in order to assist in accommodating a return to work. Please contact Carley Brook, Group Benefits Advisor (cbrook@trentu.ca) for more information.