Industrial Accident or Illness Leave (1) Eligibility for workers' compensation benefits shall be in accordance with the provisions established by Contra Costa County Schools Insurance Group (CCCSIG) to provide self-insurance workers' compensation coverage for employees and as defined by Ed. Code. (See site administrator for reporting process and paperwork.)
(2) Allowable leave for industrial accidents and illnesses shall be for a maximum of sixty (60) days in any one fiscal year for the same accident or illness. Allowable leave for industrial accident or illness shall not be accumulated from year to year.
(3) Industrial accident or illness leave shall commence on the first full day of absence following an accepted claim.
(4) When an employee is absent from his/her duties on account of any industrial accident or illness, he/she shall be paid such portion of the salary due him/her for any month in which the absence occurs, as when added to his/her temporary workers' compensation benefit, will result in payment to him/her of not more than his/her full salary.
(5) Industrial accident or illness leave shall be reduced by one (1) day for each day of authorized absence regardless of a temporary disability indemnity award.
(6) When an industrial accident or illness leave overlaps into the next fiscal year, the employee shall be entitled to only the amount of unused leave due him/her for the same illness or injury.
(7) If the employee is not medically able to return to work upon termination of the sixty (60) days of industrial accident or illness leave, he/she shall be entitled to sick leave and to apply for paid/unpaid leave as appropriate. For the purpose of other leave entitlement, his/her absence shall be deemed to have commenced on the date of termination of the industrial accident or illness leave, provided that, if the employee continues to receive temporary workers' compensation benefits, he/she may elect to take as much of his/her accumulated sick leave which, when added to his/her temporary workers' compensation benefits, will result in a payment to him/her of not more than his/her full salary.
(8) During any paid leave of absence, the employee shall endorse to the Employer the temporary workers' compensation checks received on account of his/her industrial accident or illness. The Employer shall issue the employee appropriate salary warrants for payment of the employee's salary and shall deduct normal retirement and other authorized contributions.
(9) The employee shall qualify for the provisions of this policy when he/she assumes a position with the Employer.
(10) Any employee receiving benefits as a result of this section shall, during periods of injury or illness, remain within the State of California unless the Employer authorizes travel outside the State.
(11) An employee requesting or claiming leave of absence for an industrial accident or illness is required to provide a doctor's statement to Human Resources verifying the employee is unable to fulfill his/her regular duties because of the injury or illness.
(12) An employee returning to his/her position from an industrial accident or illness leave granted under the provisions of this section is required to submit a physician's statement verifying that he/she is able to resume the responsibilities of his/her position.
Extended Illness Sick leave for extended illness (5 or more days) will be paid only during the time period in which a physician certifies the employee to be physically or mentally disabled, and only to the extent of the number of days accumulated.
Industrial Accident and Illness Leave For accidents or illnesses that are job- incurred, unit members shall be provided leave benefits under the following provisions:
12.6.1 Allowable leave shall be sixty (60) days during which the colleges of the District are required to be in session or when the unit member would otherwise have been performing work for the District in any one fiscal year for the same accident.
12.6.2 Allowable leave shall not be accumulated from year to year.
12.6.3 Industrial accident or illness leave shall commence on the first (1st) day of absence.
12.6.4 When a faculty member is absent from his/her duties on account of an industrial accident or illness, he/she shall be paid such portion of the salary due him/her for any month in which the absence occurs as, when added to his/her temporary disability indemnity under Division 4 or Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 6100) of the Labor Code, will result in a payment to him/her of not more than his/her full salary. The phrase, "full salary," as utilized in this section, shall be computed so that it shall not be less than the unit member's "average weekly earnings" as that phrase is utilized in Section 4453 of the Labor Code. For purposes of this section, however, the maximum and minimum average weekly earnings set forth in Section 4453 of the Labor Code shall otherwise not be deemed applicable.
12.6.5 Industrial accident or illness leave shall be reduced by one (1) day for each day of authorized absence regardless of a temporary disability indemnity award.
12.6.6 When an industrial accident or illness leave overlaps into the next fiscal year, the unit member shall be entitled to only the amount of unused industrial accident or illness leave due him/her for the same illness or injury.
12.6.7 Upon termination of the industrial accident or illness leave, the unit member shall be entitled to the benefits provided in Education Code Sections 87780, 87781 and 87786, and for the purposes of each of these sections his/her absence shall be deemed to have commenced on the date of termination for the industrial accident or illness leave, provided that if the unit member continues to receive temporary dis- ability indemnity, he/she may elect to take as much of his/her accumulated sick leave which, when added to his/her temporary disability indemnity, will result in a payment to him/her of not more than his/her full salary.
12.6.8 During any paid leave of absence, the unit member may endorse to the District the temporary disability indemnity checks received on account of his/her industrial accident or illness. The District, in turn, shall issue the unit member appropriate salary warrants for payment of the unit member's salary, and shall deduct normal retirement, other authorized contributions, and the temporary disability indemnity, if any, actually paid to, and retained by, the employee for periods covered by such salary warrants.
12.6.9 Any unit member receiving benefits as a result of this section shall, during periods of injury or illness, remain within the State of California, unless the Governing Board authorizes travel outside the state.
12.6.10 When all available leaves of absence have been exhausted and the unit member is not medically able to return to all the duties of his/her prior assignment, the District shall provide first (1st) priority in assigning such a person into classes where his/her disability, in the discretion of the District, does not hinder the performance of the duties required of him/her if he/she is otherwise qualified. With mutual agreement with the unit member, the District may also assign an employee into a position that can reasonably accommodate his/her performance of duties required by the position, despite his/her disability, prior to the exhaustion of leave of absence.
Extended Illness Leave When an employee is absent from his/her duties on account of illness or accident for a period of five school months or less, whether or not the illness or accident arises out of or in the course of employment, the amount deducted from the salary due the employee for any of the five-school-month periods in which absence occurs shall not exceed the sum which is actually paid a substitute employee employed to fill the employee’s position during his/her absence, or if no substitute employee was employed, the amount that would have been paid to the substitute had a substitute been employed. The sick leave, including accumulated sick leave, and the five-month period shall run consecutively. In other words, the five-month period stipulated above begins immediately after use of the employee’s current annual ten days plus any accumulated sick leave. When the employee remains absent after use of the five-month differential pay leave, the employee shall be in unpaid status. When the employee has exhausted all available sick leave, including accumulated sick leave, and continues to be absent on account of illness or accident for a period beyond the five-month period, and the employee is not medically able to resume the duties of his/her position, the employee shall, if not placed in another position, be placed on a reemployment list for a period of 24 months if the employee is on probationary status or for a period of 39 months if the employee is on permanent status. When the employee is medically able, during the 24- or 39-month period, the employee shall be returned to employment in a position for which he/she is credentialed and is qualified. The 24-or 39-month period shall commence at the expiration of the five-month period described above. This five-month period shall be implemented as set forth in the mandatory provisions of Education Code Section 44977 (as amended by SB 1019, Chapter 30 of the Statutes of 1998) and the mandatory provisions of Education Code Section 44978.1 (as newly enacted by the same Chapter 30 of the Statutes of 1998.)
Personal Illness and Injury Leave 10.1.1 Full-time bargaining unit members shall be entitled to ten (10) days leave with full pay for each school year for purposes of personal illness or injury. Bargaining unit members who work less than full-time shall be entitled to that portion of the ten (10) days leave as the number of hours per week of scheduled duty relates to the number of hours for a full-time bargaining unit member in a comparable position.
10.1.2 After all earned leave as set forth in 10.1.1 above is exhausted, additional non-accumulated leave shall be available for a period not to exceed five (5) school months, provided that the provisions of 10.1.4 below are met. The amount deducted for leave purposes from the bargaining unit member's salary shall be the amount actually paid a substitute employee employed to fill the position during the leave, or, if no substitute is employed, the amount which would have been paid to a substitute. The five-month period shall begin on the eleventh (11) day of absence due to illness or injury.
10.1.3 If a bargaining unit member does not utilize the full amount of leave as authorized in Article
10.1.1 above in any school year, the amount not utilized shall be accumulated from year to year.
10.1.4 Upon request by District management, a bargaining unit member shall be required to present a medical doctor's certificate verifying the personal illness or injury and/or a medical authorization to return to work. If the illness or injury exceeds twenty (20) consecutive days, the District may require a certified medical specialist to visit the bargaining unit member and make all necessary inquiries in order to be fully informed as to the nature and severity of the illness or injury, and to report such findings to the Superintendent or designee. If the report concludes that the absence is not due to personal illness or injury, or that the illness is not sufficiently severe to warrant continued absence, then the Superintendent or designee, after notice to the bargaining unit member, may refuse to grant such a leave. If requested by the District management to furnish a medical doctor's authorization, bargaining unit member shall submit said authorization upon returning to work.
10.1.5 Whenever possible, a bargaining unit member must contact the designated District Office personnel as soon as the need to be absent is known, but no later than ninety (90) minutes prior to the bargaining unit member's starting time, in order to permit the employer time to secure a substitute. Failure to provide adequate notice may be grounds for denial of leave with pay.
10.1.6 A bargaining unit member who is absent for one-half day or less may have deducted one-half day from the accumulated leave; and if the absence exceeds more than one-half day, a full day may be deducted from accumulated leave.
10.1.7 A bargaining unit member may not be allowed to return to work and may be required to pay the cost of the substitute secured if the bargaining unit member fails to notify the District of the bargaining unit member's intent to return to work prior to the close of the bargaining unit member's preceding workday, and such failure results in a substitute being secured.
10.1.8 Each bargaining unit member may request notification of the accumulated leave by September 30th of each school year.
Critical Illness Leave (i) An Employee who has completed at least ninety (90) days of employment, and is a family member of a critically ill child or a critically ill qualified adult relative, is entitled to leave of absence without pay or benefits: • for a period of up to thirty-six (36) weeks to care for their critically ill child; or, • for a period of up to sixteen (16) weeks to care for a critically ill qualified adult relative.
Sick Leave Donation 10.3.1 A worker may donate days of sick leave to individual District workers who, due to a serious health condition, have exhausted all accumulated sick leave. Donating workers must retain a sixty (60) day balance of sick leave after their donation. No worker may receive more than 40 days of donated leave per year.
10.3.1.1 A “serious health condition” is defined as an illness, injury, impairment or physical or mental condition which involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential health care facility, or continuing treatment or continuing supervision by a health care provider as defined in 29 USC 825.114(a) and as certified by a worker’s physician or other qualified medical practitioner.
10.3.1.2 The Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and the Chief Stewards by mutual agreement will verify the certification for eligibility. If the certification from the worker’s physician is insufficient, a certification by a physician of the District’s choosing may be required, at District expense. The District may require additional medical opinions.
10.3.2 Donated leave must be in one-day increments (no less than 8 hours). Recipients of donated sick leave shall be solely responsible for any state and federal taxes on the donated time. Such taxes shall be withheld at the normal rate for the recipient worker. In the event that the state or federal governments rule that tax liability is due other than as taxed, the recipient shall be solely liable for such liabilities.
10.3.2.1 The donated sick leave may be used only when the worker has exhausted accumulated sick leave and either is not eligible for long- term disability or is eligible but has not begun to receive the long-term coverage.
10.3.2.2 The Vice Chancellor of Human Resources shall be notified of solicitation of donations. Solicitations of donations may be made by the individual or his/her representative(s).
10.3.2.3 Donation of sick leave shall be authorized by a signed pledge form prepared by and filed with the District Office of Human Resources. In the event several workers donate sick leave, the sick leave shall be used in the order in which the signed pledge forms are filed with Human Resources.
10.3.2.4 If the worker does not use all donated sick leave, the sick leave shall be returned to the donating worker(s).
Sick Leave Abuse When the Employer suspects sick leave abuse, the employee will be provided the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding their sick leave use prior to disciplining the employee, or making reference to sick leave use in the employee’s performance evaluation. The Employer may not adopt or enforce any policy that counts the use of paid sick leave time as an absence that may lead to or result in disciplinary action for an authorized purpose. The Employer may not discriminate or retaliate against an employee for the use of paid sick leave for an authorized purpose.
Approved Leave of Absence With Pay During Vacation When an employee is qualified for bereavement leave, sick leave or any other approved leave with pay during her vacation period, there shall be no deduction from the vacation credits for such leave. In the case of sick leave, this section shall only apply when the period of illness or injury is in excess of two (2) days and a note from a physician may be required. The period of vacation so displaced shall be taken at a mutually agreed time. An employee intending to claim displaced vacation leave must advise the Employer and provide necessary documentation within seven (7) days of returning to work.
ACCIDENT MAKE-UP PAY 28.1 The employer will pay an employee accident pay, as defined in clause 9 – Definitions, where the employee receives an injury for which weekly payments of compensation are payable by or on behalf of the employer pursuant to the provisions of the relevant workers’ compensation legislation as amended from time to time.
28.2 The employer shall pay accident pay as defined in this clause, during the incapacity of their employee/s arising from any one work-related injury, for a total of fifty-two (52) weeks - irrespective of whether such incapacity is in one (1) continuous period or not.
28.3 The provisions of this Clause will not result in any ‘double dipping’ in respect to benefits payable to an employee.
28.4 The liability of the employer to pay accident pay in accordance with this Clause will arise as at the date of the injury or accident in respect of which compensation is payable under the said relevant workers’ compensation legislation and the termination of the employee’s employment for any reason during the period of any incapacity will in no way affect the liability of the employer to pay accident pay as provided in this clause.
28.5 In the event that an employee receives a lump sum in redemption of weekly payments under the relevant legislation, the liability of the employer to pay accident pay as herein provided will cease from the date of such redemption.
28.6 The employer may at any time apply to the FWC for exemption from the terms of this Clause on the grounds that an accident pay scheme proposed or implemented by the employer contains provisions generally not less favourable to the employees than the provisions of this clause.
