13 NORTHERN COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY Notes to Financial Statements Years ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012 6. Employ ment related obligations (continued): Non-Vesting Sick Leave: The College allocates to certain employee groups a specified number of days each year for use as paid absences in the event of illness or injury. These days do not vest and are available immediately. Employees are permi tted to accumulate their unused allocation each year, up to the allowable maximum provided in their employment agr eements. Accumulated days may be used in future years to the extent that the employees’ illne ss or injury exceeds the current year’s allocation of day s. Sick days are paid out at the salary in effect at the time of usage. The related benefit liability wa s determined by independent actuaries on behalf of the College System as a whole . The following tables outline the components of the College’s sick leave benefit entitlements: March 31, March 31, April 1, 2013 2012 2011 Non-vesting sick leave: Accrued benefit obligation $ 1,023,000 $ 1,105,000 $ 1,105,000 Unamortized actuarial loss (12,000) (53,000) – Total sick leave benefit entitlement liability $ 1,011,000 $ 1,052,000 $ 1,105,000 The unamortized actuarial loss is amortized ov er the expected average remaining service life as listed below: Accumulated sick leave benefit plan entitlements Academic – 12.1 years Support – 3.2 years Employee future benefits 12.8 years The significant actuarial assumptions adopt ed in estimating the College’s accrued benefit liability are as follows: 2013 2012 Discount rate 2.1% 2.25% Salary escalation 0.0% to 2.0% in 2013 1.75% thereafter