(a) Sick Leave.
(1) Except for firefighter/EMT shift supervisors, a regular full-time employee shall be entitled to ten hours of sick leave for each month of service, with pay. Sick leave may be accumulated to a total of 1,440 hours and shall be used for sick purposes only. Accumulation above the 1,440-hour limit is covered in paragraph (a)(2) hereof. A full-time employee shall be compensated for sick leave at his or her regular daily rate of pay, exclusive of overtime, differential or premium. Any absence in excess of three working days for any one illness shall not be compensated for, unless the City Manager is furnished a medical certificate from the employee's attending doctor stating the nature of the illness. The collective bargaining agreement between the City and the International Association of Firefighters, Local 4468 shall govern sick leave for firefighter/EMT shift supervisors. A part- time, seasonal or temporary employee shall not be entitled to sick leave.
(2) No employee shall receive compensation in cash for any unused sick leave, with the following exceptions:
A. A full-time employee shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to thirty-five percent of any unused sick leave at the time such employee retires from active service with the City and qualifies and begins to receive pension payments under the Public Employees Retirement System or other State operated pension and retirement program. In no case shall the City be obligated to make such payment for unused sick leave until such employee actually receives retirement benefits from such State pension and retirement program.
If an employee should die or become totally disabled to the extent that he or she receives disability retirement while actively employed by the City, the employee or his or her next of kin shall receive this benefit as if retired.
B. For purposes of this section, accumulation of sick leave shall be authorized above the 1,440-hour limit not exceeding 120 hours in any one year. A full-time employee shall be entitled to receive a cash payment, equal to thirty-five percent of his or her daily wage, of any unused sick leave accumulated in the current year above the 1,440- hour limit. Such payment shall be made during the last pay period each year.
(Ord. 4828. Passed 5-15-00.)
(3) When an employee is on sick leave, visitations by the City Manager and/or the department or division head may be made at their discretion.
(4) Sick leave may be granted by the department or division head with the approval of the City Manager, and by the City Manager with the approval of Council, for absence due to illness, injury or exposure to contagious disease which could be communicated to other employees. In the event of any lengthy absence by an employee due to any such reason, Council must approve such a request.
(5) Abuse of sick leave privileges shall be cause for immediate dismissal.
(Ord. 4091. Passed 12-3-90.)
(6) Employees injured while on duty shall be provided for as follows:
A. Any full-time employee injured while on duty shall receive his or her regular pay, less payment under the State Workers' Compensation Law, for a period not exceeding 180 work days, during which time no charge will be made against sick leave, up to a maximum of 360 days lifetime maximum injury in the line of duty pay for each employee; provided, however, that firefighter/EMT shift supervisors injured while on duty shall be provided for pursuant to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the City and the International Association of Firefighters, Local 4468. If an employee injured while on duty uses all his or her accrued sick leave benefits and other payments and credits to which he or she is entitled, and remains unable to return to work, the employee may be granted an on-the-job injury leave of absence. The employee must make application to the City Manager and must submit, along with this application, medical certification of his or her inability to return to work. Such leave of absence may be granted for up to one year and, upon re-application of the employee, may be renewed twice for up to one year on each renewal. Employers shall pay hospitalization and life insurance benefits for employees for the first six months of the initial on-the-job injury leave of absence. For the remainder of the initial leave of absence, and for the full term of any renewal thereof, the employee shall be entitled to continue his or her participation in the hospitalization and life insurance benefits, but at the cost of the employee. No wages or other benefits shall be paid to or for the employee during an on-the-job injury leave of absence.
(Ord. 4832. Passed 6-5-00; Ord. 4935. Passed 9-17-01.)
(b) Emergency Leave. In the event of a serious illness in the immediate family, all full-time employees shall be entitled to a maximum of three working days absence and the same shall be chargeable to sick leave; provided, however, that firefighter/EMT shift supervisors shall receive a maximum of two working days absence, chargeable against sick leave. In the event that additional time is required, such time may be charged to the employee's vacation or deducted from his pay. Immediate family means one's husband, wife, child, father, mother, brother, sister, father-in-law or mother-in-law.
(c) Military Leave. An employee shall be entitled to a leave of absence for annual military training in the National Guard or any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States as provided in R.C. § 5923.05.
(d) Leave of Absence. Department heads, division heads or other employees, upon recommendation of the City Manager, or the City Manager with the approval of Council, may be granted leave of absence with pay to attend conventions or other professional or technical meetings.
(e) Maternity Leave. Any female employee who has accumulated sick leave under the provisions of subsection (a) hereof shall be entitled to take a maternity leave and receive compensation from the City the same as if she were on sick leave. The time and duration of maternity leave shall be determined by the employee's physician, but in no case shall compensation for maternity leave exceed the amount of compensation such employee is entitled to receive for accumulated sick leave.
(f) Extended Illness Leave of Absence. If an employee who is ill or disabled, which illness or disability is not the result of an on-the-job injury, has used all of his or her accrued sick leave benefits and all other payments and credits to which he or she is entitled, and remains unable to return to work, the employee may be granted an extended illness leave of absence. The employee must make application to the City Manager and must submit along with such application medical certification of his or her inability to return to work. Such extended illness leave of absence may be granted for up to one year on each renewal. Employers shall pay hospitalization and life insurance benefits for employees for the first six months of the initial extended illness leave of absence. For the remainder of the initial extended illness leave of absence, and for the full term of any renewal thereof, the employee shall be entitled to continue his or her participation in the hospitalization and life insurance benefits, but at the cost of the employee. No wages or other benefits shall be paid to or for the employee during an extended illness leave of absence.
(Ord. 4091. Passed 12-3-90; Ord. 4935. Passed 9-17-01.)
(g) Funeral Leave. An employee who requests to be absent from work to attend a funeral and conduct family business in the event of the death of a member of the immediate family shall be granted up to five days leave; provided, however, that funeral leave for firefighter/EMT shift supervisors shall be governed by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the City and the International Association of Firefighters, Local 4468. The first two days of funeral leave shall be paid by the City as if the employee had worked. The last three days of funeral leave shall be paid, but shall be deducted from the employee's accumulated sick leave. For the purpose of this subsection, “immediate family” means a spouse, child, mother, father, foster parent or guardian, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepsister, stepbrother, stepson, stepdaughter, half-brother or half- sister.
(Ord. 4829. Passed 5-15-00; Ord. 4935. Passed 9-17-01; Ord. 5013. Passed 2-3-03; Ord. 5272. Passed 5-5-08; Ord. 5298. Passed 2-2-09; Ord. 5805-18. Passed 8-20-18.)