Unpaid Leave - After Three Years For every three (3) years' continuous service, an employee may request, in writing, an extended unpaid leave of absence, giving the longest possible advance notice. Every reasonable effort shall be made to comply with such requests providing that replacements to ensure proper operation of the Employer's business can be found. Notice of the Employer's decision shall be in writing.
Reinstatement after Leave An employee on an approved leave of absence is required to contact the Appointing Authority if an extension is being requested. Failure to contact the Appointing Authority about an extension prior to the end of the approved leave shall be deemed to be a voluntary resignation, and the employee shall be severed from State service. The Local Union and the Appointing Authority may agree to waive the five (5) month reassignment restriction in order to temporarily fill the position of an employee on unpaid Military Leave until s/he returns from active duty. Any employee returning from an approved leave of absence as covered by this Article shall be entitled to return to employment in his/her former position or another position in his/her former class/class option in his/her seniority unit, or a position of comparable duties and pay within his/her seniority unit. Employees returning from extended leaves of absence (one (1) month or more) shall notify their Appointing Authority at least two (2) weeks prior to their return from leave. Employees may return to work prior to the agreed upon termination date with the approval of the Appointing Authority. Employees returning from an unpaid leave of absence shall be returned at the same rate of pay the employee had been receiving at the time the leave of absence commenced plus any automatic adjustments that would have been made had the employee been continuously employed during the period of absence. (See also Article 12, Section 7A, regarding return from a leave of absence to a vacancy.)
