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City of Charlottesville, VA Fire
Department
|
Chapter: | V - Personnel Policies and Procedures |
Subject: | Sick Leave |
Code: | 1-V-1 |
Revised: | 2-11-00 |
To provide policy and guidelines relative to the usage of sick leave within the Fire Department.
A. Sick leave benefits are granted by the City to employees in permanent positions and include personal sick leave and family sick leave.
B. Benefits shall be paid at a rate equal to that paid if the employee were present for work.
C. Personal sick leave benefits are granted for the following reasons:
1. Personal illness.
2. Bodily injury, except those injuries arising out of or in the course of the performance of the job.
3. Exposure to a contagious disease when continuing to work may affect the health of others.
4. Pregnancy.
5. Physician's appointment.
D. Family sick leave benefits are granted under the following conditions:
1. When a member of the employees immediate family needs attention, and it is impractical to get a relative, nurse, or neighbor to stay with the family member.
2. When a sudden emergency requires immediate attention by the employee.
3. The immediate family means mother, father, spouse, child, brother, sister, grandparent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, foster parent or blood relative who has served as a foster parent.
4. Family sick leave benefits are limited to a maximum of no more than eighty (80) hours per calendar year.
E. Any employee with at least one (l) month of service is eligible to accumulate combined sick leave.
F. Any employee in a permanent position with the City for more than one (l) month may be allowed sick leave with pay up to the amount accured provided the member follows the guidelines established within this policy.
G. Any individual who becomes sick while on duty shall be permitted to leave duty. If possible, the individual should remain on duty until someone can be called back in, but only if the shift is at minimum manning.
H. Non-emergency doctors appointments will be permitted on duty. Individuals who have a scheduled appointment shall notify the Officer-In-Charge at least 30 minutes prior to the time at which they are normally scheduled to work in order that plans can be made to accomodate an individuals absence.
I. Sick leave benefits are charged to members of the Fire Suppression Division at a rate of one (1) hour of sick leave for every three (3) hours absent from duty or portion thereof, up to a maximum of eight (8) hours per day.
J. Sick leave benefits are charged to members ofthe Communications Division at a rate of one (1) hour of sick leave for every hour absent from duty or position, up to a maximum of eight (8) hours per day.
A. Members who are unable to report to work due to illness, or who have a scheduled doctor's appointment shall notify the Officer-In-Charge at the Headquarters Station at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the time at which they are normally scheduled to work.
B. Failure to report to the Officer-In-Charge at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the scheduled duty period change will count as an occasion towards losing a holiday. (See 1-V-20, Section 20.02B - Reporting To Work On Time)
C. Members must notify the Officer-In-Charge at the Head- quarters Station, when unable to report for work, whether sick leave is of a personal or family nature.
D. Members of the Department on sick leave, when not hospitalized, are expected to remain at home.
E. The following exceptions to this provision are noted:
1. An individual may leave his/her residence to obtain medication, visit a physician, or obtain medical care or therapy.
2. It is recognized that certain illnesses and injuries require periods of convalescence. It is the individuals responsibility to advise the Fire Chief of this; however, no one will be permitted to pursue another job in any capacity while on sick or injury leave.
F. Members of the department, while on sick/injury leave, shall not engage themselves in any type of employment or pursue recreational activities.
G. Violation of this provision is grounds for dismissal.
H. Sick leave usage shall be recorded for each Fire Department member.
I. A memo comparing individual usage of sick leave to the average Fire Department usage shall be sent to every member of the department on a yearly basis (see attached).
J. This memo shall serve as:
l. Congratulations if the individuals sick leave usage is below the departmental average.
2. A cautionary note to monitor sick leave to avoid further punitive action.
3. A warning if the individuals sick leave usage is above the departmental average. 4. Notification requiring the individual to present a Certification of Illness (CFD Form 34) for every day of sick leave used, if the individuals sick leave usage is above the Departmental average and the individual has been repeatedly warned.
5. A warning that successive, excess uses of sick leave will affect evaluation and pay.
K. Individuals required to furnish the Fire Department with a Certification of Illness shall:
l. Be responsible to have several CFD Form 34's, Certification of Illness, on hand.
2. Bring the completed form at 0700 hours on the day the individual returns to work.
3. Not be paid for the day of their absence if the CFD Form 34 is not brought in as described in this policy.
4. Face disciplinary action if the documentation is not provided more than once.
L. Absence because of illness which extends beyond the employee's accumulated combined leave benefits may be charged to vacation or leave without pay.
M. Fire Department members requiring extended absence because of illness must present a physicians certificate to their Fire Battalion Chief or must report to the Officer- In-Charge thirty (30) minutes prior to shift change on each day that members shift is regularly scheduled to work.
N. In the event that a member requires an extended absence from his/her regular duties, but according to a physician is fit for light duty, he/she may return to work under the physician's guidelines.
A. Where absence of a permanent full-time employee is necessary by serious and extended illness, injury, or disability, which is not related to the performance of duties, the appointing authority shall investigate the circumstances including the procurement of a physicians certificate.
B. If the Director of Personnel considers extraordinary sick leave to be justified, the Director shall approve it for an amount not to exceed one-half working day for each completed month of service.
C. If extraordinary sick leave has once been given for any completed month of service, it may not be given for that month again.
D. Extraordinary sick leave will not be granted unless the employee has exhausted all available sick leave, annual leave and compensatory leave accounts.
A. Maternity leave shall be provided to all pregnant employees upon written application in advance of expected termination of pregnancy.
B. By the end of the sixth month of pregnancy and at such time as deemed necessary by the Department head, a doctor's statement discussing the probable date the employee must cease work shall be submitted to the Fire Chief or his/her designate.
C. Return from maternity leave status should normally be at a time no later than two (2) months following the con- clusion of the pregnancy. An extension may be authorized by the Director of Personnel in cases of major complications.
D. Persons who use maternity leave shall be paid from the sick leave, compensatory leave and annual leave accounts in that order. Should all accounts become exhausted the balance of leave will be without pay.
E. In cases of major complications to the pregnancy, employees may also request the granting of extraordinary sick leave.
F. An employee may continue to work as long as her doctor permits. Should she have a temporary pregnancy-related illness before beginning maternity leave, the illness may be charged to sick leave.
This policy applies to any member of the Fire Department on sick leave.
All members shall be responsible for abiding by City and Department guidelines concerning usage of sick leave.
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