(a) Employees injured while working within the scope of their employment, and who are temporarily disabled by such injury, shall receive their usual and normal salary and compensation during such period, provided the employee qualifies for and turns over to the Employer all temporary total disability payments received by the employee for lost pay, from the Bureau of Workers Compensation. However, no employee shall be eligible for injury leave unless and until the employee has completed and submitted a “Report of Injury” Form to the Safety-Service Director within 48 hours of the incident.
(b) Injury leave provided herein shall not exceed six (6) months from the date of injury and shall not be charged against the employee’s sick leave. Following the period of injury leave, the employee may use accumulated sick leave, vacation, or apply for an unpaid disability leave if the employee is still disabled. The employee shall return to work in a transitional work assignment, if available, during such period of disability Said assignment shall be at the sole discretion of the employer, however, acceptance of such transitional work assignment shall be subject to mutual agreement between the employer and the affected employee. If a transitional work assignment is not applicable due to the employee’s injury or as determined by the employer, the employee shall, at the request of the employer, submit to a physical exam by a licensed physician of the employer’s choice to determine if physical therapy may aid in the recuperation and return to work of the employee. Physical examinations required pursuant to this Article shall be at the employer’s expense.
(c) Additional injury leave will be granted by the employer after one hundred eighty (180) days upon certification by a duly licensed physician and approval by the Safety-Service Director. Diagnosis and certification demanded by the employer to consider addition leave shall be paid for by the employer. Approval of extensions will not be unreasonably withheld but shall not result in a total injury leave period of more than one (1) year.
(Ord. 02-013. Passed 8-26-02.)