aerial photo of the campus in the fall season

VIUFA / VIU Joint Early Intervention Program

Joint Early Intervention Principles

The parties to the VIU / VIUFA Collective Agreement April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2019 agree to develop, implement and support at Joint Early Intervention Program. The program must include the following principles:

    • Jointly Managed – The Joint Early Intervention Program will be jointly managed.
    • Mandatory – Where an employee is absent for five or more consecutive days of work or where it appears that there is a pattern of consistent or frequent absence from work, an employee may be referred for participation in the Early Intervention Program. If an employee is referred, the employee must participate in the Early Intervention Program.
    • Rehabilitative – The purpose of the program is rehabilitative. The program is not punitive in nature and will not be used adversely as part of any disciplinary proceedings.
    • Early Return to Work – The employee will provide the information necessary for the employer, the union and the disability management services provider to determine the employee’s prognosis for early managed return to work.
    • Confidential – All information provided to the committee or to the disability management services provider will be in confidence, and all records will be confidential. Managers will only be provided with information necessary for rehabilitative employment.
    • Union Representation – An employee enrolled in the program is entitled to Union representation, and the Union agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the employee’s medical and related records.

Abilities Management Access / Short Term Disability Forms

  1. Employer Notification
  2. Employee Declaration
  3. Attending Physician’s Statement
  4. Physician's Assessment of Work Abilities
  5. Banked Sick Leave Authorization
  6. Authorization to Communicate by Email

Joint Rehabilitation Committee (JRC) Members

  • Vacant, representing ADMIN, Human Resources Advisor, Employee Benefits
  • Michael Down, representing VIUFA, Professor, Criminology
  • Brenda Lane, representing VIUFA, Professor, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Lynda Patterson, representing VIUFA, BA Degree Advisor
  • Brenda McKay, representing ADMIN, Director, Human Resources (Alternate)
  • Vacant, representing ADMIN,
  • Sharon Wahl, representing ADMIN, Associate Dean, Faculty of Education