(Entire section replaced with employee handbook language)
(A) An employee may request sick leave for absences resulting from illness as described below, provided they follow the policy herein. Sick leave may be requested for the following reasons:
(1) Illness or injury of the employee, a member of his or her immediate family, or a member of the employee's household, where his or her attendance is reasonably necessary;
(2) Exposure of employee, a member of his or her immediate family, or a member of the employee’s household to a contagious disease which would have the potential of jeopardizing the health of the employee or the health of others;
(3) Medical, dental, or optical examinations or treatment of an employee, a member of his or her immediate family, or a member of the employee’s household;
(4) Pregnancy, childbirth, and/or related medical conditions; or
(5) Any other reason that would fulfill the requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
(B) For the purposes of this policy, “immediate family” is defined as only: mother, father, brother, sister, child, legal spouse, grandparent, grandchild, stepchild, foster child, legal guardian or other person who stands in the place of a parent with the approval of the City Manager.
(C) The city maintains the right to investigate any employee’s absence. Employees may be required to furnish proof of illness as evidenced by a physician’s statement, or other satisfactory written statements of the employee as required by the City Manager or designee All absences of three or more days may require a physician’s excuse.
(D) All full-time employees of the city who work on average a 40-hour work week shall accrue 4.6 hours of sick leave per pay period. Designated Fire Division full-time personnel who work on average 104 hours over a 14-day period shall accrue sick leave at the rate of 0.0575 hours of sick leave for regular hours worked.
(E) Any employee requesting sick leave must inform his or her supervisor within the prescribed time frame established by the department/division rules and regulations. The employee must give a satisfactory reason for his or her sick leave and location of convalescence, if different than the home address.
(F) Vacation leave and compensatory time (if applicable) may be used for sick leave purposes at the employee’s request and with the approval of the City Manager. Employees who are unable to return to work after exhausting all paid leave may apply for an unpaid leave of absence or may be eligible for unpaid Family Medical Leave.
(G) Medical/dental appointments are excusable absences and are valid reasons for use of earned sick leave. Employees are expected to schedule medical and dental appointments to minimize interference with office hours. To keep lost production time to a minimum, the employee should schedule appointments for early or late in the day. Employees are expected to request only as much time as is needed to attend the scheduled appointment, including reasonable travel time.
(H) Any employee returning from sick leave may be required, prior to returning to work, to submit a physician’s certification of the employee’s ability to perform the essential functions of the position. The city reserves the right to require an employee to remain on sick leave until such time as the employee is fully released to perform all of his/her essential functions. Return to limited or light duty will be permitted only upon the recommendation from the Department/Division Head and approval by the City Manager.
(I) Employees absent on sick leave shall be paid at their regular hourly, daily, or bi-weekly rate as when they were working.
(J) If sick leave is denied and as a result the employee has been overpaid, such overpayment shall be deducted from the employee's next pay check, and the employee's sick leave balance shall be restored.
(K) An employee fraudulently obtaining sick leave, abusing sick leave, or falsifying sick leave records, shall be subject to disciplinary action or discharge in accordance with policies outlined in this manual.
(Ord. 6140, passed 11-24-87; Am. Ord. 6471, passed 2-13-90; Am. Ord. 6570, passed 1-22-91; Am. Ord. 6689, passed 1-28-92; Am. Ord. 6830, passed 4-13-93; Am. Ord. 7152, passed 12-26-95; Am. Ord. 7744, passed 12-28-99; Am. Ord. 8837, passed 9-23-03; Am. Ord. 9052, passed 12-14-04; Am. Ord. 2021-112, passed 12-14-21)