Staff Training/Education
Assistance Policy and Procedure
Revision Resp.: Corporate Services / Application: All Administrative, Shop and Warehouse Employees “Staff”Control ID: 1126 / Effective: 10/31/03 / Revision: 08/26/13
Prepared By: Corporate Services / Issued by: Executive / Approved by: Don Streuber, President
Distribution: Document Control, Employee Manual, Intranet / Corp Announce 11/04/03
1.SCOPE
To define Bison’s policies and procedures on staff training and education assistance.
2.STAFF TRAINING / EDUCATION ASSISTANCE POLICY
General Statement:
Bison Transport values continuous learning, education and training initiatives for all employees wishing to enhance their current skills, develop new skills for advancement within the organization, or for personal development. Bison is committed to continuous improvement in all training and education systems, from new hire orientation and on the job training, through to the highest levels of professional development pursuits. Bison will support employee education and training activities that contribute to overall business and employee development objectives.
Training/Education Assistance Funding Proposals:
Employees may formulate an educational plan in conjunction with their department managers. Educational plans are part of overall succession planning. The Human Resources Group are a resource for research help, however the onus is on the individual to determine the type of program they want to pursue and to present a proposal in writing to their manager.
Acceptable Training and Educational courses include a wide variety of courses and activities generally available through accredited learning educational institutions.
Where applicable, exam challenge and course transfer fees in support of educational programs and professional development activities will be considered under this policy.
Employees interested in attending external training courses are required to fill out a Staff External Training / Education Request Form. Upon approval the employee is responsible to register for the Training/ Education course.
Management will evaluate all training /educational assistance proposals and either accept or reject them based on merit and alignment with business objectives. Decisions will be communicated to the employee directly.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for external training or education assistance, the applicant must be a full time employee, and not on probation for any reason as per Bison policy. Exceptions may be made at management’s discretion, should the training or education be a part of an overall performance improvement intervention for an employee in the progressive discipline system.
Apprenticeship Training:
Attending Apprenticeship Schooling is an earned privilege. In an effort to better prepare our apprentices we need to see exposure in the areas to be covered at the next level. Our apprentices must be in good employment standing before a school date is agreed upon. Apprentices will be evaluated on standard repair times, ability to work well in team environment, attitude, safety records, and sick days. Shop Supervisors will print out the corresponding document for Truck Transport or Transport Trailer Level requirements prior to an agreed upon schooling date (Appendix A & B respectively) to determine whether the Apprentice has successfully completed training in each level.
Company Training / Education Sponsorship:
Situation
/ % of Course Costs Funded By Bison / % of Wages or Salary Funded By BisonTraining/Education courses directed and approved by Bison. / 100% / 100%
Training courses requested by employee and Bison approved. / 100% / 100%
Education proposal directly supporting Bison’s business objectives. / 100% / 0%
Education proposal indirectly supporting Bison’s business objectives. / 50% / 0%
Education proposal supporting personal development only, approved by Bison. / 25% / 0%
Bison retains ultimate discretion on the decision to fund or not fund any training / education assistance proposal.
Incidental Training / Education Expenses:
- Bison may cover reasonable incidental expenses included in the initial education assistance or training request proposal as well as reasonable unforeseen expenses incidental to attending training.
- Discretion on accepting or rejecting claims of this nature fall to the expense report signing authority.
Record Retention:
Records will be held in employee training/education assistance application file.
Repayment of Training / Education Assistance:
Generally, repayment of training/education assistance will apply to courses, training, or apprenticeships that are a significant investment for Bison. This may include multi-year / multi-course certificate or diploma programs offered through colleges and universities, or other specialty courses. Repayment determination will be made at the discretion of the manager based on the overall financial sponsorship provided to the employee.
If an employee leaves the employ of Bison Transport for any reason while completing a course (regardless of accomplishment), the tuition amount will be deducted from their final pay.
Tuition reimbursed to employees is required to be partially reimbursed back to the Company in the event the employee voluntarily leaves the employ of the Company within one (1) year following the course. Such reimbursement shall be pro-rated on the basis of one twelfth (1/12) of the total costs times (x) the number of full months remaining in the year to be completed by the employee. These repayments will be deducted from the final pay of the departing employee.
For example, an employee completes a course in May 2007. The total cost of the course is $300.00. The employee voluntarily leaves Bison Transport in January 2008, which means he/she has served 8 of the 12 months in the period (May 2007 to January 2008). The four months remaining (between February to May) form the basis of the repayment.- Employee is pro-rated on the basis of one twelfth (1/12)
- Employee pays four (4) months: (4/12) = .33
- Cost $300.00
This employee would have $100.00 deducted from his/her final pay.
STAFF TRAINING / EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROCEDURE
1.Employee completes the Staff External Training/Education Request Form.
2.The employee submits form to appropriate manager. Manager will review and discuss overall proposal with employee to ensure completeness.
- The Manager will advise the employee of the status of his/her application. If an applicant is not approved, the reasons will be provided to the employee. If an application is approved, the manager will advise and begin further processing.
- The Manager shall forward the original form to the Controller, Finance or designate for processing. The Employee will be required to participate by selecting financial terms, registration options, and other arrangements.
- Once complete, the Controller or designate shall then make any copies of pages from the application form they may require for Finance Department use.
- The original form is given back to Human Resources for filing as per record retention documentation. A copy can be made for the Applicant for their personal records, if desired.
- Employee attends the training course of study. Upon receipt of final mark (where applicable), a copy is provided to the manager. The manager will initial and date this record and forward to HR/People Development to be filed in the employee’s education assistance file.
- If, for any reason, an employee cancels registration or withdraws from a course where a refund (partial or full) is issued, the employee shall remit payment for the full refund amount to Bison Transport immediately upon receipt of the refund.
- Failure to attend a training/education program without a satisfactory reason for absence or failure to meet applicable passing requirements may result in being personally responsible for 100% of the course costs.
The original form is given back to Human Resources for filing as per record retention documentation.
- REVIEW/REVISION
Review/Revision Number
/ Reviewed By / Revision / Date of Review/Revision0 / Effective Date / 10/31/03
1 / HR Committee (See Meeting Minutes) / Removed 75% funding level, changed to 100% / 12/30/03
2 / Corporate Services / Standardized Format / 2/13/04
3 / Corporate Services / All completed educational assistance proposals will be reviewed by the Executive and either rejected or approved at that level.
Changed to:
- All completed educational assistance proposals will be reviewed by the appropriate management level and either rejected or approved at that level.
Examination Challenges and Course Transfers:
Exam challenge and course transfer fees in support of educational programs and professional development activities are allowed for consideration under this policy / 7/09/07
4 /
- Added repayment clause
5 / HR /
- Tuition being deducted from final pay
6 / HR /
- Added Apprenticeship training paragraph
APPENDIX A - TRUCK TRANSPORT LEVEL REQUIREMENTS
Level 1
safety, hazardous materials, and preventative maintenance
equipment access/transport related procedures
welding (oxyacetylene)
engine systems and repair procedures
standard transmission systems, drivelines, transfer cases, and pto’s
tires and wheel assemblies
brake fundamentals and components
electrical fundamentals
Level 2
welding (electric/arc/mig)
differentials, drive axles, and final drives
manual transmissions: multi countershaft and autoshift
hydraulic transmissions, torque converters, and related components
steering systems and frames
hydraulic accessories, components and circuits
basic electronic components
starting systems
charging systems
body electrical and lighting systems
Level 3
inspection procedures: truck and bus
engine diagnosis, startup, tuneup and engine brakes
cabs, restraint systems and attached equipment
hvac and mopia
air brake systems and power assist units
spark ignition systems
fuel system fundamentals, gasoline fuel systems, and alternate fuels
diesel fuel injection, engine management and exhaust systems
Level 4
pre ip review
trailer fundamentals and transport refrigeration
abs system fundamentals and traction control
electronic control systems, programming and scan tools
APPENDIX B - TRANSPORT TRAILER LEVEL EXPECTATIONS
Level 1
trade safety awareness
shop/hand/measuring tools and equipment
hoisting, lifting, and staging equipment
welding, oxyacetylene, and arc
suspensions
wheel end assemblies
wheel off certification
trailer body
air brake systems
electrical theory and circuitry
Level 2
welding 2 mig/tig
air ride/spring ride suspension systems and related components
van/flatdeck trailer body structures and related components
coupling units and landing gear
air brake systems 2
electricity and wiring 1/ introduction to electronics/abs
hydraulic systems 1
Level 3
suspensions 2
electricity and wiring 2 / lighting/charging circuitry/ abs
hydraulic systems 2
fundamentals of heating
fundamentals of cooling
pre-interprovincial review
Control ID: 1126Page 1 of 4
Date: 8/26/13