Master Agreement Between the Government of the Province of Alberta and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
(1)
(2)
The Parties agree that Employees and the Employing Department may examine the feasibility of entering into HWAAs. Flexible hours arrangement can only be requested by Employees. Provided that services are not adversely affected and there are no operational difficulties, the Employing Department may implement an HWAA or flexible hours arrangement, but participation by an Employee in such systems shall be voluntary.
(3)
The Employer has the sole right to determine the number of Employees who are required to be at work. However, upon entering into a flexible hours arrangement, the Employees are entitled to have the first opportunity to plan their work schedule whereby they may arrange their starting times, lunch periods and finishing times on a daily basis, in keeping with the Employer's operational requirements. Employees shall have the opportunity to make up time lost during the flex period due to late arrival, subject to the approval of the Employing Department.
(4)
An Employee and the Employing Department may enter into a flexible hours arrangement in accordance with provisions of Overtime Agreements in the Employment Standards. An Employee participating in a flexible hours arrangement will be allowed to bank up to a fifteen (15) hour carry over per month, and regular bi-weekly salary shall be paid provided the Employee’s time is within this limit and the variance is approved by the Employing Department. An Employee may not accumulate a bank in excess of fifteen (15) hours per month, nor shall they be in a deficit of hours at any time. Hours shall not be banked unless the Employee has actually worked more than normal daily hours.
(5)
In the event the HWAAs or flexible hours arrangement does not result in the provision of a satisfactory service to the public, or is deemed by the Employing Department to be impractical for other reasons, the Employing Department may require a return to regular times of work in which case Employees shall be provided advance notice of thirty (30) calendar days.
(6)
An Employee who is working according to HWAAs or flexible hours arrangement may opt for regular times of work by providing the Employing Department advance notice of one (1) week.
Employees working according to a HWAA will have benefits and entitlements which are expressed in terms of daily or weekly entitlements, converted to produce the equivalent hours of benefits and entitlements as they would have had if the work week had not been modified. This will result in no loss or gain in Employee benefits and entitlements.
(8)
Where applicable these provisions shall have force and effect in lieu of Articles 16 and 17 of this Master Agreement.