Family Leave 1. An Appointing Authority shall grant to a full time or part time employee who has completed his/her probationary period, or if there is no such probationary period, has been employed for at least three consecutive months, an unpaid leave of absence for up to twenty-six (26) weeks in conjunction with the birth, adoption or placement of a child as long as the leave concludes within twelve (12) months following the birth or placement. The ability to take leave ceases when a xxxxxx placement ceases unless the need for additional leave is directly connected to the previous placemen
2. New employees who have completed six full months of employment but remain within their probationary period may request the appointing authority to waive their remaining wait time for FMLA. Such request shall include submission of satisfactory medical evidence that demonstrates either a.) an existing catastrophic illness; or b.) a problematic pregnancy that prevents the employee from being able to perform the functions of her position. Any leave granted under this waiver will be charged against the employee’s FMLA leave as described in this section. The remaining rights and obligations under Section 8 shall apply.
3. At least thirty (30) days in advance, the employee shall submit to the Appointing Authority a written notice of his/her intent to take such leave and the dates and expected duration of such leave. If thirty (30) days notice is not possible, the employee shall give notice as soon as practicable. The employee shall provide upon request by the Appointing Authority proof of the birth or placement or adoption of a child.
4. If an employee has accrued sick leave, personal leave, compensatory leave, or vacation credits at the commencement of his/her family leave, the employee may use such leave credits for which s/he may be eligible under the sick leave, personal leave or vacation provisions of this Agreement. The Appointing Authority may, in his/her discretion, assign an employee to temporarily backfill for an employee who is on family leave. Such assignment may not be subject to the grievance procedure.
5. At the expiration of the family leave, the employee shall be returned to the same or equivalent position with the same status, pay and length of service credit as of the date of his/her leave. If during the period of the leave, employees in an equivalent position have been laid off through no fault of their own, the employee will be extended the same rights or benefits, if any, extended to employees of equal length of service in the equivalent position in the department.
6. Employees taking an unpaid leave of absence under this provision will accrue sick and vacation leave benefits only for the first eight (8) weeks of such unpaid leave. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement to the contrary, the family leave granted under this Article shall not affect the employee's right to receive any contractual benefits for which s/he was eligible at the time of his/her leave.
7. During the time an employee is on family leave, the employee shall be entitled to group health insurance coverage benefits on the same terms and conditions in effect at the time the leave began, provided the employee continues to pay the required employee share of premium while on leave. If the employee fails to return from leave, the Commonwealth may recover, as provided under FMLA, the cost it incurred in maintaining insurance coverage under its group health plan for the duration of the employee's leave.
