Indigenous leave for ceremonial, cultural or spiritual events allows BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care), CUPE 116, CUPE 2950, IUOE 115 and Management & Professional employees who self-identify as Indigenous and Indigenous Faculty to request paid leave to participate in ceremonial, cultural and spiritual events.
Self-identifying indigenous staff and Indigenous Faculty may request up to two days of paid leave per calendar year to participate in ceremonial, cultural or spiritual events. The leave may be taken in one or more blocks of time. Indigenous leave for ceremonial, cultural and spiritual events is in addition to an Indigenous employee’s entitlement to bereavement leave, as applicable.
A ceremonial, cultural or spiritual event includes any event that is significant to an Indigenous employee’s cultural practices. Examples of significant cultural events include, but are not limited to, Hoobiyee, Pow-wows, Sundance, sweat lodge ceremony, coming-of-age events, feasts, traditional food gathering or ceremonies held following a significant family event.
If an Indigenous employee requires more than two days of leave for a ceremonial, cultural or spiritual event, the leave shall not be reasonably denied. Any additional leave would be unpaid and an employee may draw from their available vacation and overtime banks, as applicable.
How to apply for leave through Workday
All BCGEU Vancouver (Child Care), CUPE 116, CUPE 2950, Faculty, IUOE 115 and Management & Professional employees will see 14 hours of Indigenous leave for ceremonial, cultural and spiritual events in Workday. This leave balance should only be used by employees who self-identify as Indigenous. You should arrange your leave requests with the head of your individual department or unit. Indigenous leave for ceremonial, cultural and spiritual events requests can be submitted directly through Workday and will be routed to your manager for review and approval.
For Workday resources and help visit the Integrated Service Centre.