Trust Academic Benefits Stabilization Fund
In 2001, the Board of Governors designated certain categories of trust/research funded employees as academic staff at the University of Alberta. On July 1, 2006, a Collective Agreement was signed and with this agreement, certain benefits provisions became mandatory. Because these benefits may cause an unforeseen issue for individual trust-holders, a Trust Academic Benefits Stabilization (TABS) Fund was established.
Overall responsibility and matters of policy for the program will reside with the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic).
For further information regarding TABS, refer to the Trust/Research Academic Staff Agreement .
FUNDING FOR TABS (Premiums)
The funds for TABS are financed through benefits premiums collected as a percentage of the salary of academic staff paid from trust accounts. The funding percentage as set by the Fund Advisory Committee (FAC) is 1.5% of annual salary.
Example (salary of $47,547)
1.5% x $47,547 = $713.00/year
Eligibility
Trust-holders may apply to TABS for support for their trust/research academic staff who are eligible to receive the following benefits:
Childbirth leave top-up benefits
- up to a 15 week maximum or to the end of the appointment.
Medical leave
- Trust-holder will cover first four weeks (20 working days) - TABS will cover up to remaining 22 weeks of entitlement or to end of appointment.
Pay-in-lieu of notice provisions in excess of a three month period
- Assistance will only be considered where the lay-off is unexpected or unplanned. All attempts must be made to find the employee alternate employment and all other funds exhausted before applying to the fund. Where contracts specifically identify terms relating to lay-off or where there are predetermined wind-up plans, this fund can not be accessed.
Application for Support
Applications for support from this fund are made by completing the Trust Academic Benefits Stabilization (TABS) Claim Form.
Assessment of Application
Pension and Benefit Services in Shared Services will review and process applications that meet the criteria for accessing the funds. Applications that do not meet the criteria will be forwarded to the Office of the Vice-President (Research) for assessment. In cases of further questions, the FAC will be asked to assess the application and determine the appropriate course of action.
Resolution of Disputes of Assessment
Where a Trust-holder disagrees with a decision of Academic Staff Administration, the reason(s) may be submitted in writing to the FAC for review.