Training/Professional Development
3-60
HUMAN RESOURCES MANUAL
POLICY
TRAINING/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) supports staff training and professional development as follows:
1. Orientation is provided to all employees, volunteers and Board members.
2. On an ongoing basis and as needs are identified throughout the year, ACT provides inhouse agency wide and program specific training programs and/or invites speakers to the agency.
3. ACT maintains a budget and offers financial assistance and/or paid leave to employees/volunteers to attend external programs, courses, conferences and/or seminars having job related applicability. Upon written request by the applicant and approval by the manager/Executive Director, ACT may provide financial assistance with all or part of:
- tuition/registration fees;
- associated costs, e.g., books, travel expenses (see Travel Expense Claims, AM # 5-50); and/or
- paid time off work to attend.
APPROVAL
To be considered for financial assistance for external training/development, the individual must submit a written request to and receive written approval from the manager/Executive Director.
The request is to include:
- information about the program (including location, date(s)/duration, time required off work, itemized breakdown of all costs); and
- benefits to ACT, e.g., increased knowledge or skill relative to job performance at ACT, positive impact on professional image of ACT, intention to submit an abstract following the training/development.
Approval is based on but not limited to the following:
- Status of the training and development budget.
- Applicability of training/development to job performance and to agency needs.
- Ability of ACT to accommodate that person's absence.
- Previous funding provided to that individual to attend training/development.
- The number of ACT employees/volunteers applying for the same training/development.
- Intention to submit an abstract.
Where approval is for partial payment by ACT of costs and/or time, details of the shared arrangement are to be itemized in writing on the approval.
If approved and the activity attended is not during normally scheduled work hours, the employee may be granted time off.
Volunteers retain their active volunteer status while they are attending approved training and development.
ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS
On return from approved training and development:
- individuals are expected to present applicable information to ACT employees and volunteers;
- if appropriate, individuals are encouraged to submit abstracts for conference presentations; and
- individuals are expected to present proof of completion/grades.
Books paid for by ACT are the property of ACT and remain at ACT if the employee subsequently leaves.
UNPAID EDUCATIONAL LEAVE
For personal interest training, development or education, employees may make a written request for an unpaid leave. (See Unpaid Leave of Absence, HR # 6-80.)
