February 2024

Article 7.05  provides for the ability for staff to exchange shifts. There are a few limitations within in language of the Article and then a few more added on by the employer.

The Collective Agreement states that the request must be made in writing and agreed to by both the employees. The shift trade must not add any cost and would not attract any OT payments and it stipulates that orientation must be completed by both employees.

The Employer has also been known to add a time line element to the mix. Essentially stating that shifts trades would only be approved with a specified window. Some Managers state 4 weeks and other’s stated 90 days to align with Scheduling advance booking of vacancies.

President’s Tip An other little know fact is that shift exchange applies to Casual Employees as well.

The Collective Agreement does not preclude/prohibit Casual Employees from exchanging pre-booked shifts with Regular or Temporary Employees. Blanket denials by the Employer are not supported by the Collective Agreement.

The Employer has final approval for all shift exchange requests.

Trades between Regular or Temporary staff, as long as they meet the criteria set out should be approved.

When determining whether to approve the request between a regular/temporary employee or not, the manager may consider a number of factors, such as the Casual’s past history of attendance/cancelling pre- booked Casual shifts, cost, size of Casual pool.

Once your shift trade is approved then that traded shift is reflected in the schedule and becomes the new schedule.

President’s Tip This is important because the respective Employees are no longer responsible for their pre-exchange shifts.