Credited Participating Service

3.01 - A Participant's Credited Participating Service is the total number of years (including fractions to the next highest 1/12th) of employment with one or more Participating Employers, during which he was a Participant in the Plan subject to the following conditions, adjustments and limitations:

• A Participant earns Credited Participating Service only for periods during which he was an active contributor to the Plan.
• Temporary absences arising from vacations or illness shall not reduce the length of Credited Participating Service, provided that the Trustees shall establish certain limits beyond which no further credit is granted in cases of extended disability.
• The Credited Participating Service of any Participant who received a full refund of all contributions made by him to the Plan shall be cancelled as of the date of such refund.
• Notwithstanding the above, with respect to a Part-Time Employee, Credited Participating Service is determined as described above for each Plan Year and then multiplied by the percentage of the Part-Time Employee's hours worked during each Plan Year to the number of hours regularly scheduled for a full-time Employee for a full Plan Year as determined by the Participating Employers.
• The Credited Participating Service of any Participant granted with respect to a period represented by payment of severance in lieu of notice is limited to a period of three months.

With respect to a Participant who terminates employment, dies or retires, Credited Participating Service is determined as described in this Section 3.01 and is then adjusted to the percentage of a full Plan Year worked based upon the date of separation and, if applicable, a further adjustment for part-time employment as described above.

In respect of periods of absence before January 1, 1991, each period of Credited Participating Service granted in respect of temporary absences during which the Participant does not receive Compensation, is limited to a maximum full-time equivalent of two years. In respect of temporary periods of absence after December 31, 1990, the aggregate of Credited Participating Service granted in respect of temporary absences during which the Participant does not receive Compensation, including Maternity Leaves and Parental Leaves in accordance with Section 3.04, is limited to a maximum full-time equivalent of 5 years, plus an additional 3 years credited in respect of absences that occur within the twelve month period which commences at the time of birth or adoption of a child of the Participant.

The phrase, Credited Participating Service, when used in this Section 3.01, shall, in respect of any period of employment prior to September 1, 1972, of an individual who becomes a Participant on September 1, 1972, include any and all periods of participation in the Former Plan.