(Entire section replaced with employee handbook language)
Injury leave may be granted by the City Manager in lieu of Worker's Compensation lost income benefits. Such leave may be granted to an employee who becomes unable to perform his or her job duties due to an injury or illness that occurs in the discharge or performance of his or her official duties, except where such injury or illness is the result of gross negligence or intentional self-injury.
(A) Should an employee be injured during the course of employment with the city, he or she shall report the incident to his or her supervisor immediately, and his or her supervisor shall notify his or her Department/Division Head and complete a report of injury form (Appendix). This report shall be completed, regardless of the apparent seriousness of the injury, and regardless whether medical attention is required. Such report shall be forwarded to the Department/Division Head and the Personnel Department no later than 48 hours after the accident. An employee injured in a work related accident may be required by the Department/Division Head to see a physician.
(B) Should the Department/Division Head require it or should an employee’s injury require medical attention, a Worker's Compensation medical claim form shall be completed by the attending physician. This completed report should be forwarded to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation through the City Personnel Office.
(C) The Department/Division Head must be advised and continually updated if an employee continues to be absent due to a work-related injury. Employees are responsible for providing their expected date of return to work (if known).
(D) Any documents received from the injured employee, his or her physician, hospital, or the State, regarding a Workers' Compensation claim must be immediately forwarded to the Personnel Department.
(E) Employees who are injured in the line of duty and must leave work before completing their workday period shall be paid at their regular rate of pay, for the balance of time left in their scheduled work day.
(F) Injury leave / salary continuation shall be paid at the employee’s normal hourly rate for a period not to exceed 12 weeks.
(G) In the case of injuries where there is a question as to the circumstances, employees must use any combination of paid or unpaid leave during the absence. At the time the injury is determined to be job-related by the city and the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation, the employee's leave may be reinstated and injury leave substituted for the time absent.
(H) Family and Medical Leave will begin on the first day of injury leave for eligible employees. City contributions toward the cost of benefits will be maintained during injury leave. Requests for additional injury leave will be considered on a case by case basis.
(I) An employee returning from leave may be required to provide a physician’s certification of his or her ability to return to work.
(J) Employees may be required to submit to medical and/or psychological examination in order to determine the employee’s capability to perform the essential functions of the employee’s position with or without reasonable accommodation. Such examination shall be conducted by a licensed practitioner chosen by the city. The cost of such examination shall be paid by the city.
(Ord. 9052, passed 12-14-04; Am. Ord. 2021-112, passed 12-14-21)