Leave of Absence Defined. Employees shall be eligible for certain leaves of absence as specified in this Article. Employees on approved leaves of absence are in unpaid status unless the employee chooses to utilize accrued "paid non-work days" pursuant to Section 17.0 below. A leave is an authorized absence from a job classification for a specified purpose and period of time, with the right to return to active service with salary rate status and Degree Track status remaining intact unless the employee's service would otherwise have been terminated. Leaves are either "permissive" or "mandatory." As to permissive leaves, the term "may" is used and the District retains discretion as to whether they are to be granted and as to the starting and ending dates of the leave. As to mandatory leaves, the term "shall" is used and the District has no discretion as to whether the leave is to be granted to a qualified employee. An employee returning from a leave will be returned to the location from which the leave was taken except that the employee may be transferred or laid off if such an action would have been taken, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, had the employee remained on duty.
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