181.26 PAID TIME OFF (PTO).

   Effective January 1, 2016, permanent full-time employees hired on or after January 1, 2016, as well as, any eligible employees hired prior to January 1, 2016, who opted-into the PTO system as of January 1, 2023, including any eligible employees originally hired prior to January 1, 2016, but reinstated or rehired after January 1, 2023, will not be eligible for leave benefits under Section 181.01 (Vacation Leave), 181.02 (Sick Leave), and 181.27(b)(2) (Floating Holidays and Birthday Leave). Instead, permanent full-time employees hired on or after January 1, 2016, as well as, any employees hired prior to January 1, 2016 who opted-into the PTO system as of January 1, 2023, including any employees originally hired prior to January 1, 2016, but rehired or reinstated after January 1, 2023, time off will be awarded as Paid Time Off (PTO).

   (a)    The City will grant paid time off with pay to all permanent full-time employees hired on or after January 1, 2016, as well as, any eligible employees hired prior to January 1, 2016, who opted-into the PTO system as of January 1, 2023, including any eligible employees originally hired prior to January 1, 2016, but rehired or reinstated after January 1, 2023, on the following basis:

Years of Continuous Service or Work Experience	PTO Hours Per Year	Approx. PTO Accrual Per Pay	Max PTO Hours Paid at Separation
Less than 1	88	3.38	1:1; 480 max
1	168	6.46	1:1; 480 max
7	208	8.00	1:1; 480 max
16	248	9.54	1:1; 480 max
17	256	9.85	1:1; 480 max
18	264	10.15	1:1; 480 max
19	272	10.46	1:1; 480 max
20	280	10.77	1:1; 480 max
21	288	11.08	1:1; 480 max

   (b)    For benefits under this Section, it is understood that all periods of employment are to be continuous periods of employment as a permanent, full-time employee without separation by resignation or dismissal. Credit for continuous service shall apply only to service for the City of Hamilton for persons hired after August 17, 1994. Such employees shall receive no credit for service in any other public agency and shall have no right to claim such service under Ohio Revised Code § 9.44.

      (1)   Effective January 1, 2019, at the discretion of the City Manager, the above restriction on credit for continuous service may be adjusted to take into account consideration of years of related work experience acquired prior to hire with the City of Hamilton.

   (c)    A permanent full-time employee hired on or after January 1, 2016, as well as, any eligible employee hired prior to January 1, 2016, who opted-into the PTO system as of January 1, 2023, including any eligible employee originally hired prior to January 1, 2016, but rehired or reinstated after January 1, 2023, may use PTO consistent with policies established and approved by the City Manager.

   (d)    Effective March 30, 2018, a permanent full-time employee hired on or after March 30, 2018 will have a lump sum of eighty (80) PTO hours placed in their PTO bank on the date of hire. A permanent full-time employee hired on or after January 1, 2016 who did not have a lump sum of eighty (80) hours placed in their PTO bank upon hire will receive this benefit on or about March 30, 2018. This PTO benefit will not interfere with the PTO accrual schedule set forth in Section 181.26(a).

      PTO will accrue per pay and continue indefinitely up to the PTO bank maximum of 480 hours as long as the employee is in a paid status. Once 480 hours is reached, the accrual will stop. Once the employee's PTO balance goes below 480 hours, the accrual will re-activate and continue as described above.

      (1)   Effective January 1, 2019, at the discretion of the City Manager, the number of PTO hours placed in a new hire's PTO bank can be increased up to one hundred twenty (120) hours to take into account consideration of years of directly related work experience acquired prior to hire or rehire with the City of Hamilton.

   (e)    In case of death, unused accrued PTO shall be paid in a lump sum to the estate of the decedent or the surviving spouse or heir(s).

   (f)    In the event of separation by resignation, layoff, retirement or dismissal after one year of service, any unused accrued PTO shall be paid in a lump sum. An employee with less than one year of service shall not receive a PTO payment in the event of separation by resignation, layoff, retirement or dismissal.

      (Ord. 2017-1-2. Passed 1-11-17; Ord. 2018-3-23. Passed 3-14-18; Ord. 2019-12-131. Passed 12-4-19; Ord. 2022-11-108. Passed 11-16-22.)