(A) All full-time employees will receive paid sick leave each calendar year in the amount of one day per month or 12 days per year. Part-time employees, temporary employees and seasonal employees will not be eligible for paid sick leave.
(B) Sick leave time begins to accrue on the first day of employment. For periods of less than one month, such as at the beginning or end of employment, sick leave will accrue on a pro rata basis in minimum increments of one-fourth hour.
(C) Sick leave will be given on a monthly basis. Each pay period, the employee’s sick leave account will be debited for sick leave used by the employee during the preceding period. If an employee ceases to be employed during the year, the employee must repay to the city the amount of sick leave used in excess of the leave that has accrued up to the date of termination. If possible, the value of the excess leave will be deducted from the employee’s final paycheck.
(D) An employee may use sick leave for any one of the following reasons:
(1) To avoid jeopardizing the health of other employees;
(2) Illness, disability, medical condition or a medical or dental appointment of the employee or a member of the employee’s immediate family necessitating the employee’s presence. IMMEDIATE FAMILY will mean the employee’s spouse, child, mother, father, grandchildren or other permanent members of the employee’s household; or
(3) Because mental health is an integral part of overall wellness, the city allows employees to take advantage of sick leave for occasional “mental health days.”
(E) An employee using sick leave time will notify his or her immediate supervisor as soon as possible of the need to use sick leave. For periods of leave longer than one full day, the employee will notify his or her supervisor of each separate day that leave will be used unless prior arrangements have been made.
(F) Whenever an employee uses sick leave time, the employee will submit an Absentee Request Form in accordance with §§ 36.170 through 36.185. When possible, the employee will submit the Absentee Request Form in advance of the leave. Otherwise, the employee will submit the Absentee Request Form immediately upon return to work.
(G) A medical certification or physician’s statement will generally not be required to return to work after the use of sick leave. However, an employee’s supervisor may require medical certification or a physician’s statement when there is a reasonable basis to believe the sick leave policy is being abused, to certify that the employee can perform the essential functions of the job without risking the safety of themselves or others or the employee’s length of absence exceeds two full workdays.
(H) An employee may carry over all unused sick leave time to the next calendar year.
(I) Employees retiring or voluntarily separating from the city will be compensated for accumulated sick leave as described below: Payout of sick leave for employees that the city considers as retiring from city service is subject to the following limitations.
(1) Employees with less than five years of service will not be compensated for accrued but unused sick hours.
(2) After five years of service, employees will be paid up to five days of accrued but unused sick hours.
(3) After ten years of service, employees will be paid up to ten days of accrued but unused sick hours.
(4) After 15 years of service, employees will be paid up to 15 days of accrued but unused sick hours.
(J) Employees terminated from the city service are not eligible for the payout of sick leave and no other payouts except as provided in the county employees standard unused sick leave program will be provided.