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8.15 Disconnecting from Work Policy

8.15 Disconnecting from Work Policy

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This online version is for convenience; the official version of this policy is housed in the University Secretariat. In case of discrepancy between the online version and the official version held by the Secretariat, the official version shall prevail.

Approving Authority: President

Original Approval Date: June 1, 2022

Date of Most Recent Review/Revision: N/A

Office of Accountability: Chief Human Resources and Equity Officer

Administrative Responsibility: Human Resources

1.00 Purpose

1.01 To support University Employees in balancing their working and personal lives – whether working in the workplace or remotely, or whether working traditional hours or flexible hours – the Disconnecting from Work Policy (the “Policy”) encourages Employees to disconnect from work outside of their regular working hours in accordance with and subject to this Policy.

1.02 Disconnecting from Work is important for individual wellbeing and helps Employees achieve a healthy and sustainable work-life balance. The University supports and aims to foster a workplace culture that values Disconnecting from Work outside of an Employee’s working hours including during periods of vacation.

2.00 Definitions

2.01 Contractor(s): any person(s) providing services or goods to the University under a contract or other agreement not paid as an employee through the University’s payroll system.

2.02 Disconnecting from Work: not engaging in work-related communications, including emails, telephone calls, video calls or the sending or reviewing of other messages, so as to be free from the performance of work outside of working hours, including periods of vacation.

2.03 Employee(s): means a person who performs work for wages in any capacity for the University, and for the purposes of this Policy, excludes Students, Volunteers, Contractors, and any other person who provides services for compensation that are excluded under the Employment Standards Act.

2.04 Student: An individual registered in a course of study as a Student at the University, either full-time or part-time, pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or non-degree certificate programs.

2.05 Volunteers: individuals who willingly provide services or assistance to the University without payment of fees, wages or salary and without any expectation of any kind of compensation other than reimbursement for incurred expenses or, as may be applicable, a pre-approved honorarium.

3.00 Jurisdiction/Scope

3.01 This Policy applies to Employees of the University, as defined in this Policy.

4.00 Policy

4.01 An Employee’s ability to Disconnect from Work depends on the University’s business and/or operational needs and the duties and obligations of the Employee’s position, subject to an Employee’s employment contract, applicable collective agreement and/or their minimum statutory entitlements under the Employment Standards Act (ESA).

4.02 Nothing in the Policy precludes the University or other Employees of the University from contacting colleagues, vendors and other third parties, or other Employees outside of what may be considered standard business hours or the regular working hours of each respective party, subject to any rights or entitlements the receiving colleague or Employee may have under their employment contract, applicable collective agreement and/or their minimum statutory entitlements under the ESA.

4.03 Notwithstanding Section 4.02, Employees should be respectful of colleagues’, vendors’, and other third parties’ regular working hours (e.g. by not routinely emailing or calling outside of regular working hours) and should not generally expect responses by receiving parties outside of their regular working hours.

4.04 This Policy does not afford Employees a “right to disconnect” beyond what is within their individual employment contract, applicable collective agreement and/or their minimum statutory entitlements under the ESA, which may include rights or entitlements speaking to: hours of work and hours free from work, overtime pay, meal and/or rest periods, public holidays and public holiday pay, and vacation.

4.05 Nothing in this Policy is intended to amend or supersede any grievance procedure or other aspect of any applicable collective agreement or employment contract, as the case may be.

Relevant Legislation

Employment Standards Act, 2000 S.O. 2000 c.41

Related Policies, Procedures and Documents

Relevant Resources

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