The COS provides military leave, both paid and unpaid, in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
(1) Drills, Field Training, other Service (Paid Leave)
W. Va. Code § 15-1F-1(a) gives employees that are members of the West Virginia National Guard or any of the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves, thirty (30) working days of military leave per calendar year without loss of pay or benefits, for drills, parades or other duty, during business hours, field training or active service of the state. None of the unused days of military leave of absence granted pursuant to W.Va. Code § 15-1F-1(a) can be carried over and used in the next calendar year.
(2) Call to Active Duty (Paid Leave)
Pursuant to W. Va. Code § 15-1F-1(b), employees who are ordered or called to active duty by a properly designated federal authority shall be entitled to a military leave of absence without loss of pay or benefits for a maximum period of thirty (30) working days for a single call to active duty.
An employee called to active duty under this provision, who has not used all or some of his or her 30 working days of military leave for guard/reserve drills, training, etc., shall be entitled to add the number of unused days from that calendar year to the thirty (30) working days granted pursuant to W.Va. Code § 15-1F-1(b), up to a maximum of sixty (60) days for a single call to active duty.
(3) Unpaid Military Leave
Additional unpaid military leave will be given, if needed, in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.
Employees requesting leave for military duty must submit copies of their military orders to their Supervisor as soon as practical. An employee's eligibility for reinstatement after his or her military duty or training is completed is also determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.