Date Issued: 01/10/2002
Revision Date: 04/12/2018
Purpose
To enable a high-performing and professional public service, the Government of Saskatchewan (GoS) supports new parents on maternity/legal adoption/parental leaves with financial provisions under this policy.
Policy Statement
The GoS will provide eligible employees with a supplement to the maternity/parental Employment Insurance (EI) benefits received for a maximum of seventeen (17) weeks, including a one week waiting period, with respect to the same child or children.
Objectives
This policy aims to outline provision of the supplemental payments to enable eligible GoS employees to spend time with their newborn or newly adopted children.
Principles
- Fairness and equality – eligible employees on maternity, legal adoption or parental leave in respect to the same child or children, qualify to receive supplemental payments up to seventeen (17) weeks.
- Fiscal responsibility – supplemental payments can only commence once an employee signs a return to service commitment and after an employee provides proof of receiving EI benefits to the Human Resource Service Centre (HRSC).
Application
This policy applies to eligible in-scope GoS employees.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for supplemental payments with respect to the same child or children, an employee must:
The signed application form denotes acceptance and understanding of a promise to return to work for the employer for a period equal to the same number of weeks that the supplement is received and to repay the amount of the supplement, or a portion thereof, should the employee not return to work for the number of weeks that the supplement was paid.
Supplement Amount
Maternity/legal adoption/parental supplement is a top-up payment to 95 per cent (%) of the eligible employee's regular weekly earnings in effect immediately prior to commencement of definite leave of absence. The top-up is calculated from the gross maximum weekly EI Benefit or 55 per cent (%) of employee's regular weekly earnings, whichever is less.
Note: The election to receive the standard or extended EI benefits do not impact the maximum weekly EI Benefit or the amount of the supplement received.
Waiting Period Supplement
If an employee qualifies for the maternity/legal adoption/parental leave supplement and is required to serve the EI waiting period, the GoS provides such employee with a supplemental payment equal to 95 per cent (%) of their regular gross salary for the one week waiting period.
If an employee is not required to serve the EI waiting period, the GoS provides such employee with a supplemental payment up to sixteen (16) weeks.
Combined Benefits:
Deductions, Benefits and Pension
The supplemental payments will be processed through the payroll system to allow for:
- deduction of income tax, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions and union dues (if applicable); and
- reporting of these earnings and deductions on a T4 form.
The employer will process all benefits in accordance with the normal provisions applicable to definite leave of absence - refer to section PS 702-C Benefit Coverage While on Definite Leave of Absence Without Pay Appendix C.
Responsibilities
Public Service Commission (PSC):
- develops and implements GoS-wide maternity/legal adoption/parental leave supplement employment benefit policies, guidelines, and procedures;
- provides advice and assistance to ministries on the application of this policy; and
- monitors consistent application of the policy, procedures and guidelines.
Managers/supervisors:
- and submit a copy to the HRSC.
Employees:
- apply for a definite maternity/legal adoption/parental leave of absence;
- sign the return service commitment as a part of the application form;
- apply for EI benefits;
- provide verification of approval and receipt of EI maternity or parental benefits through submission of copies of the initial approval documentation, as well as subsequent EI payment details (e.g., EI cheque stubs). Documentation must be received by the HRSC prior to receiving supplement top-up payments.
Authority
Definitions
- Regular Weekly Earnings – include Regular Time, Designated Holiday Pay, Vacation Pay, Market Circumstance Supplement, Temp Circumstance Supplement and Northern District Allowance. Regular weekly earnings do not include supplementary payments such as shift pay, weekend premium, overtime, etc.
- Maternity Leave – is an unpaid leave for eligible employees in respect to pregnancy, childbirth, post-childbirth recuperation, and childcare.
- Legal Adoption Leave – is an unpaid leave for eligible employees to take care of a newly-adopted child.
- Parental Leave – is an unpaid leave for eligible employees for the purpose of caring for a new-born child.
Related Policies
HR Policy Manual Section 702: Leaves of Absence without Pay
Policy Inquiries
For inquiries, please contact the Human Resource Service Centre (HRSC).
