Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA In accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993, the Board will grant a leave of absence for one or more of the following:
1. Because of the birth of a son or daughter of the employee, and in order to care for such son or daughter;
2. Because of the placement of a son or daughter with the employee for adoption or xxxxxx care;
3. To care for the employee's spouse, son or daughter, or par- ent, in laws or members of blended families or other per- sons in a similar relationship that live in the family house- hold or are in a similar family relationship who has a serious health condition; or,
4. The employee is unable to perform the essential job func- tions because of a serious health condition. As of February 2008, an employee who is the spouse, son, daughter, parent or the next of kin of a covered service mem- ber can take up to 26 weeks of FMLA leave during a single twelve (12) month period to care for the injured service mem- ber. The same eligibility requirements apply for employees requesting a leave under this category. Regulations as estab- lished by the Department of Labor will be followed when granting leaves under this provision. FMLA leaves are only available to employees who have been employed by the District for at least twelve (12) months and have worked 1,250 hours during the previous twelve (12) month period. Such leaves are counted against an employee's annual FMLA leave entitlement. Under the FMLA, an employee is eligible for a total of twelve (12) work weeks of leave in a twelve (12) month period. This twelve (12) month period is measured back from the date a requested leave is to begin. Continuation of medical, optical and dental benefits and the right to job restoration ceases when an employee has used twelve (12) work weeks of FMLA leave in the twelve (12) month period. (See Section B, Medical Leave of Absence). An employee requesting a FMLA leave must provide the Xxxxx- xxxx Superintendent of Human Resources at least thirty (30) days advance notice of when the leave is to begin. If such no- xxxx is not practicable, then notice is to be provided as soon as practicable. When a leave denoted as (1) or (2) above is granted, the leave must be taken in one (1) continuous increment, and must be concluded within twelve (12) months of the date of birth or placement. Employees granted such leave must utilize accu- mulated vacation days and accumulated personal business days (in that order), after which time the leave is unpaid. When a leave denoted as (3) above is granted, the employee must utilize accumulated sick leave time, accumulated vacation days, and accumulated personal business days (in that order), after which time the leave is unpaid. When a leave denoted as (4) above is granted, the employee must utilize accumulated sick leave days and accumulated per- xxxxx business days (in that order), after which time the leave is unpaid. After these days have been used and if more sick time is needed, the employee may choose to use accumulated vacation time. When additional time is needed during the 90 calendar day (13 week) LTD elimination period, the employee may use available vacation days. If the employee has pur- chased and is filing for short term disability, vacation days may be used during the 14 day elimination period. Vacation days cannot be used once the short term disability coverage starts. Leaves denoted as (3) or (4) above must be supported by med- ical certification from a health care provider stating (1) the date on which the serious health condition commenced, (2) the probable duration of the condition, (3) the appropriate medical facts, and (4) a statement that the employee is unable to per- form the essential functions of his/her position, or that the em- ployee is needed to care for the person. The District reserves the right to require the employee to obtain the opinion of a sec- ond health care provider designated or approved by the District concerning any information within the medical certification. When a FMLA leave denoted as (1) or (2) above is granted to spouses who are both employed by the District, the total amount of time on leave (in total for both employees) cannot exceed twelve (12) weeks of FMLA time. At the expiration of a medical leave or if the employee wishes to return to work before completion of the leave, there must be a physician's certification confirming his/her fitness to return to work. The District may condition the employee's return to work upon a fitness for duty examination and approval by a health care provider designated by the District. The District will continue to provide an employee's medical, optical and dental insurance while he/she is on a FMLA leave for a period of up to twelve (12) weeks on the same terms and conditions as prior to the leave. An employee on a FMLA leave shall not engage in any outside or supplemental employment. The District may recover insurance premiums paid while an employee was on an unpaid FMLA leave if:
1. The employee fails to return to work for at least thirty (30) days after the expiration of the leave; and
2. The failure to return is for a reason other than a serious health condition, or other circumstances beyond the control of the employee. Certification from the health care provider may be required for this purpose. An employee returning from a FMLA leave will be restored to the position he/she left, or to an equivalent position with equiv- alent benefits, pay and other terms and conditions of employ- ment. If the employee has not satisfactorily completed the probation- ary period at the commencement of a FMLA leave, then upon cessation of the leave, the employee must work the days need- ed to complete the probationary period.
