Sick Leave
1014.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Employees of this department are provided with a sick leave benefit that gives them continued compensation during times of absence due to personal or family illness. The number of hours available is detailed in the employee's respective personnel manual or applicable collective bargaining agreement.
This policy is not intended to cover all types of sick or other leaves. For example, employees may be entitled to additional paid or unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons as provided for in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) , the California Family Rights Act or for organ or bone marrow donor procedures (29 CFR 825; Government Code § 12945.2; Labor Code § 1510).
1014.2 EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITIES
Sick leave may be used for absences caused by illness, injury, temporary disability (including pregnancy/maternity), or for medical, dental or vision exams or medical treatment of the employee or the employee's immediate family when it is not possible to schedule such appointments during non-working hours.
Sick leave is not considered vacation, and abuse of sick leave may result in discipline and/or denial of sick-leave benefits. Employees on sick leave shall not engage in other employment or self- employment, or participate in any sport, hobby, recreational or other activity which may impede recovery from the injury or illness.
Upon return to work, employees shall complete and submit a leave request describing the type of leave used and the specific amount of time taken.
1014.2.1 NOTIFICATION
Employees are encouraged to notify the Watch Supervisor or appropriate supervisor as soon as they are aware that they will not be able to report to work. At a minimum, employees shall make such notification no less than one hour before the start of their scheduled shift. If an employee is unable to contact the supervisor in the case of an emergency, every effort should be made to have a representative contact the supervisor.
When the necessity for leave is foreseeable, such as an expected birth or planned medical treatment, the employee shall, whenever possible, provide the Department with no less than 30- days notice of the intent to take leave.
1014.3 EXTENDED ILLNESS
Employees on extended absences shall, if possible, contact their unit supervisor at three-day intervals to provide an update on their absence and expected date of return. Employees absent from duty due to personal illness in excess of three consecutive days may be required to furnish a statement from their health care provider supporting the use of sick leave and/or the ability to return to work.
Nothing in this section precludes a supervisor, with cause, from requiring a physician's statement if three or fewer sick days are taken.
1014.4 SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY
Supervisors should monitor sick leave usage and regularly review the attendance of employees under their command to ensure that the use of sick leave is consistent with this policy. Supervisors should address sick-leave use in the employee's performance evaluation when it has negatively affected the employee's performance or ability to complete assigned duties, and when unusual amounts of sick leave by the employee has had a negative impact on department operations. When appropriate, supervisors should counsel employees regarding the excessive use of sick leave and should consider referring the employee to the Employee Assistance Program.
