AMURE

Association of McGill University Research Employees (AMURE)

Sick Leave


Types of sick leave available to McGill Research Employees

Paid Sick Days (Days 1-2)
Employees who have been working for a minimum of 3 months are entitled to 2 paid days of absence per year, granted by right by the government of Quebec. These paid days can be used for illness or for personal/family reasons.

Applicable to: All research employees. For student research assistants, and part-time research assistants and associates, an indemnity equal to 1/20 of their income during the 4 complete weeks of pay preceding the week of the sick day will be paid.

Short Term Disability (days 3+, up to 6 months)
Following 2 consecutive days of absence, McGill employees are entitled to go on short term disability, which covers their full salary and benefits for up to 6 months. This requires a medical certificate from a physician or registered nurse practitioner.

Applicable to: Full-time and part-time research assistants 1 & 2 and research associates who are eligible for the McGill benefits program, and post-doctoral fellows.

Long Term Disability (months 7 and up)
Following 6 months of short-term disability, McGill employees are entitled to go on long-term disability, which covers a part of their salary using the long-term disability insurance plan that is mandatory for all McGill employees. Long-term disability coverage requires the employee to be continuously followed by a physician for the duration of their leave. In addition, the insurer will determine whether or not the employee is capable of conducting their work duties and is eligible for benefits.

Employees will receive 60% of their first $3,000 of monthly earnings, plus 45% of the remainder of their monthly earnings, up to a monthly maximum of $5,325. This amount is not taxable income. Benefits are reduced by any disability benefits the employee receives from alternative sources.

Applicable to: Full-time and part-time research assistants 1 & 2 and research associates who are eligible for the McGill benefits program, and post-doctoral fellows.

Unpaid Leave
Employees are protected under Quebec law and are entitled to take up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave within a 12-month period. Their job is protected during this time.

Applicable to: Research employees who are not eligible for other types of paid leave (such as short-term disability) for the first 6 months. 

Requirement for Doctor’s Note

McGill cannot ask for a doctor’s note for the first 3 absences due to illness per any 12-month period that are each for 3 consecutive days or less.

McGill can ask for a doctor’s note if:

  • it’s the employee’s 4th absence for a given 12-month period or
  • the employee is absent for more than 3 consecutive days (regardless of whether it is the first or fourth absence in the past 12 months).

Absences are counted per 12-month period, beginning from the employee’s first short-term absence (i.e. not per calendar year).

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