Stormtech Canada Associate Handbook

CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM

1. PURPOSE Stormtech encourages personal and professional development by providing financial assistance to associates pursuing approved continuing education and training, where required for business reasons. 2. SCOPE This policy applies all regular, full-time Stormtech associates working in Canadian locations. 3. ELIGIBILITY • Regular, full-time associates must have completed at least three (3) months of service before participating. • Associates must be in active full-time standing at the time of requesting approval as well as at the time of reimbursement in order to receive reimbursement. • At the time of request, associates must be meeting expectations of their position and are expected to maintain an acceptable level of performance until the point of reimbursement. Any exception to this must be approved by the department executive and People & Culture. 4. PROGRAM • Courses, certifications, professional designations, or licenses must be directly related to the associate’s present job or to one which a transfer or promotion may reasonably be expected to occur. • Courses and programs, including those taken online, may be completed through educational institutions, training companies or other private organizations. • Courses must be approved by the employee’s manager and People & Culture prior to signing up for the course. • Associates may use one paid day per annum for study needs (preparation for extended courses and designation exams). • Associates must receive a completion certificate, or a course grade of “C” or better for graded courses (or passing grade if pass/fail grading is used) in order to receive reimbursement. • Course times and scheduling: − For extended courses or professional designation programs that reoccur weekly for a period of time (i.e., many courses are between eight (8) to twelve (12) weeks in duration), associates are expected to register for sessions offered after regular working hours, where the option is available. − Short certificate or training classes will be treated as a regular working day (i.e., classes such as Microsoft Excel training classes which take place over one (1) to four (4) days). • All time devoted to educational requirements (class time, assignments, preparation time, exams, etc.) must not interfere with the associate’s work responsibilities. • Associates are expected to devote their own time to the completion of educational requirements where additional time is needed. • Any time off required as part of educational requirements requires management approval. Any exceptions must be approved by the department executive and People & Culture. • Reimbursement is issued for tuition, registration fees, laboratory fees, examination fees and required textbooks. • Reimbursement expenses that are considered a taxable benefit will be included in an associate’s T4. • Expenses covered by other means (federal aid, grants, etc.) are not eligible for reimbursement.

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