Teachers with temporary and probationary contracts often wonder what will happen with their contracts at the end of the school year and whether they will have contracts for next year.
A teacher whose contract is not renewed by June 30 and who worked as a substitute for one or more school districts or who has no guarantee of a position for September might qualify for regular employment insurance (EI).
A teacher who has worked the necessary number of hours in the previous 52 weeks (depending upon teaching status and location within the province) will qualify. It is recommended that teachers apply for benefits regardless of the number of hours they have worked.
It is highly recommended that a teacher keep records of hours worked (including any preparation time before and after school, supervision and extracurricular time after school, time spent marking assignments at home, and so on). An accurate record of hours worked may help make a teacher’s case if his or her EI benefits are denied because of insufficient hours (as reported by the employer on the teacher’s Record of Employment).
It is also recommended that teachers regularly record the following information:
- The date on which they applied for EI benefits.
- All dates on which they contacted EI, the name of the person to whom they spoke and a summary of their conversation.
- The dates on which they contacted potential employers by phone, in writing or in person.
In addition, teachers should keep copies of the following documents:
- All correspondence they have sent to and received from EI.
- All jobs for which they have applied.
- All replies they have received in response to job applications.
A teacher who is denied benefits should contact the ATA's Teacher Welfare program area for advice on the merits of filing an appeal. If an appeal is warranted, an ATA representative may be appointed to act on the teacher’s behalf. In Edmonton and area, call 780-447-9400; from elsewhere in Alberta, call 1-800-232-7208.
For more information on employment insurance, call the EI General Inquiries line at 1-800-206-7218. Apply for benefits through the Services Canada website.
