Application for Leave Any request for a leave of absence shall be submitted in writing by the employee to the Employer or designee. The request shall state the reason the leave of absence is being requested and the length of time off the employee desires. Authorization for a leave of absence shall be furnished to the employee by the Employer or designee, and it shall be in writing.
Request for Leave At any time, employees may request the use of short-term leave (annual leave, compensatory time use, or personal leave). Such request shall be submitted on the appropriate form and approved or denied on the form within one week of submission to the appropriate authority (practices of shorter time periods will be maintained) except that current practices concerning emergency leave requests shall be maintained. Requests will not be denied unreasonably. The issue of more employees requesting the use of short-term leave than can be granted because of operational needs shall be resolved at the LMC. The Employer shall not request the reasons for the use of earned leave other than sick leave as permitted by Article 12. All leave may be used in tenth of an hour increments provided, however that use of personal leave to cover tardiness related absences shall not serve as a bar or defense to disciplinary action.