Public Service Labour Relations Board
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Appendix C - Glossary of Terms

Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
AD&D provides a benefit to the employee in the event of dismemberment or to the beneficiary in the event of accidental death of the employee. Payment can be calculated as both a percentage of salary or a flat amount. This type of plan may be part of a basic group life insurance or may be a distinct plan.
Annual Leave (Vacation)
Periods of paid leave that may be accumulated or paid out in part and that are calculated annually. Amount of leave usually varies by position level and seniority.
Basic Group Life Insurance
Insurance plan under which beneficiaries designated by the employee receive, on the employee’s death, a lump sum or an amount based on a set formula.
Deductible
Under an insurance policy, the portion of a claim not covered by the insurance provider. It is normally quoted as a fixed amount and is part of most policies covering losses to the policy holder. The deductible must be paid by the insured before the benefits of the policy apply.
Dental Insurance
Insurance plan usually covering a portion of preventative as well as minor and major restorative services. Some plans also offer coverage for orthodontic treatments.
Floating Day
A floating day is paid time off of short duration for which no date has been pre-determined.
Incumbent
A full-time employee working in a position matched to one of the surveyed positions.
Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
Plan under which an outside insurer pays benefits to employees who, by reason of disability or sickness, are incapable of performing their regular duties, either permanently or for an indefinite period. This type of insurance is typically subject to a waiting period before it can be used.
Paid Sick Leave
Paid days of absence for illness or injury for which the employer continues to pay the employee all or part of the regular salary. These plans protect employees only for short periods of absence.
Pension Plan
Set of measures designed to provide employees with retirement benefits according to a variety of means and conditions.
Permanent Full-Time Employee
One who performs work for an employer, receives compensation in exchange for that work, has an indeterminate contract of employment and works 30 hours or more per week.
Reimbursement of Unused Sick-Leave Credits
Payment made by an employer during the reference period for sick leave that was not taken during the year.
Regular Hours of Work
The set number of hours that an employee can expect to work in a standard work week.
Salary Range
Set of rates of pay forming a basic pay structure. The rates are associated with a position and rise from a minimum to a maximum, usually according to a certain number of levels or steps. Salary ranges vary depending on the position.
Short-Term Disability (STD) Insurance
Private insurance that replaces all or a portion of income if an injury or illness prevents an employee from working. While the employee is away from work, an STD plan will pay a predetermined percentage of income for a specified period. STD normally covers all, or part of the waiting period before commencement of benefits under the Long Term Disability Plan (LTD).
Statutory Holiday
Short period of absence with pay set by statute or customarily recognized to commemorate a civil or religious event.
Supplementary Health Care Insurance
Insurance offered by an outside insurer that reimburses a variety of expenses, including prescription drugs, private-duty nursing care, physiotherapy, chiropractic and podiatric treatments, prostheses and other medical equipment, vision care and paramedical expenses.
Year's Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE)
Amounts established by the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) comprising the maximum level of pay on which employers and employees make CPP contributions. The federal government reviews the YMPE every year based on increases in the average industrial wage.

Previous