The employee, while absent on sick pay, must notify the Department of Fire & Rescue Operations under agreed practices. When claiming sick days an employee must remain at home caring for his/her illness unless he/she is away receiving medical attention such as a hospital, at a doctor's office or at a pharmacy, and be able to document the absence from home. An employee who is recuperating from surgery or some other major medical condition who is advised by their physician that a change of location would hasten his/her recovery, he/she may do so with the approval of the Department of Human Resources. The employee then shall be allowed, under these conditions, to continue to receive sick benefits.
Between September 1 and August 31 of the following year, when the employee takes six (6) eight (8) hour days, four (4) tours of duty, or repeatedly takes one (1) eight (8) hour day at a time, then the employee may be added to the "sick list". While an employee is on the sick list, the employee is required to document all further use of sick days taken by furnishing a Statement of Attending Physician setting forth the employee's physical condition that necessitates such absence. The time used by employees who are off on sick leave, which is approved by a physician, shall be excluded from the sick list. Employees, issued a "sick list" notification letter may submit a written request to the Chief for reasons they have been placed under these restrictions.
Once an employee has used thirty-six (36) hours of undocumented sick hours in the current sick year (September 1 and August 31), the member may be subject to two (2) home visits by the Chief of the department or his designee. The designee shall be a member of the City of Toledo Department of Fire and Rescue Operations. These visits shall be conducted between 0700 and 1900 hours on the date the employee is off due to illness.
When the use of sick days extends beyond two (2) tours of duty or the equivalent of six (6) eight (8) hour days, the employee shall furnish the City with a Statement of Attending Physician substantiating the facts concerning the employee's condition. The documentation shall be submitted either at the beginning of the next tour of duty or thereafter when the employee returns to work.
In order to be removed from the "sick list", the employee must have used no more than forty-nine (49) hours of sick time over a minimum of twelve (12) months based on the guidelines defined above. Those employees who must submit documentation for their absences due to the restrictions of the sick time letter shall have the submission of that documentation entered in the house journal prior to forwarding it to the fire administration.
When a firefighter on the "sick list" is absent from duty as a result of claimed illness and there is information which indicates that the claimed illness is not legitimate, then his/her usage of sick time may be investigated by an authorized City representative during the employee's normal hours of work, provided, however, that any visit to the home shall be conducted prior to seven (7:00) p.m.
Any employee found guilty of abusing the sick pay benefits provision hereto set forth or whose reasons for absence are falsified shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
(Ord. 594-06. Passed 8-22-06.)