Item - 2020.GL15.4

The General Government and Licensing Committee received the reports (June 12, 2019) and (August 31, 2020) from the Executive Director, People, Equity and Human Rights for information.

The City of Toronto's current policy on Designated Holidays and Floating Holidays, and the collective agreement implementations of that policy provide for flexibility in accommodating requests by employees to observe religious days that are not among the 11 holidays designated by the City.  The City's practice of allowing employees to use paid floating holidays, lieu time, applicable leaves, or other scheduling options meets the requirements of the Ontario Human Rights Code and is consistent with the approach taken by most public and private sector employers in the province.

This report provides information on recent amendments to the City's policy and collective agreement provisions to provide enhanced flexibility in accommodating requests by employees to observe religious days that are not among the 12 holidays designated by the City.  The City negotiated with its bargaining units, CUPE local 79 and TCEU Local 416, to increase the number of float days for all City employees, from two (2) days to three (3) days, for full-time employees, and from one (1) day to two (2) days, for part-time City employees.  This enhancement was ratified by the unions and by City Council earlier this year.  In addition, City Council approved in July 2020, an amendment to the policy for non-union employees to increase the annual number of paid float days to three days from two days, for full-time employees and from one day to two days for part-time employees.