(a) The Mayor may grant a leave of absence without pay and health insurance to any employee for a duration of thirty (30) days for any personal reason of the employee.
(b) Whenever the employee is granted a personal leave of absence, it shall be the employee's obligation to assume the responsibility for payment of insurance benefits normally paid by the Village. Such requirement shall be at the employee's option; however, if dropped during the leave period, the employee is not eligible for continued benefits upon return to work, until the next open enrollment period. Vacation leave and sick leave will not be accrued during such leaves of absence.
(c) The authorization of a leave of absence without pay is a matter of administrative discretion. The Mayor will decide in each individual case if a leave of absence is to be granted.
(d) Except for emergencies, employees must request such personal leave sixty (60) days prior to commencement of the desired leave so that various departmental functions may proceed properly.
(e) Upon completion of a leave of absence, the employee is to be returned to the position formerly occupied, or to a similar position if the employee's former position no longer exists. Any replacement in the position while an employee is on leave will be terminated or reassigned upon the reinstatement of the employee from leave. Any employee displaced by a reinstated employee will be considered for other vacancies.
(f) An employee may return to work before the scheduled expiration of leave if requested by the employee and agreed to by his/her department head. If an employee fails to return to work at the expiration of an approved leave of absence, the employee will be deemed to have resigned unless a disability leave or retirement is granted.
(g) A full-time employee may request a leave of absence without pay for maternity purposes by submitting such request in writing to the Village with a signed physician's statement.
(1) The leave of absence will begin on the date the physician states that the employee can no longer perform the substantial and material portion of her duties.
(2) The leave of absence will end on the date on which the physician releases the employee as medically able to return to work.
(3) The employee may request that accrued sick leave or vacation be used during the period of leave.
(Ord. 2011-11. Passed 7-6-11.)