Common use of Skill Improvement Clause in Contracts

Skill Improvement. The District may offer and require employees to participate in classes, conferences, workshops, and courses which are designed to enhance or broaden the employees’ knowledge and job capabilities. If employees are required to participate outside the assigned work day, the employee shall be paid the applicable regular or overtime rate of pay. If there are tuition or other charges for the programs, the fees will be borne by the District for those specifically requested to participate. If such training is held outside of the District, regular policies and procedures regarding mileage reimbursement or use of commercial transportation will apply. If participation outside the assigned work day would represent a personal hardship to the employee, the employee may be excused from participation after s/he describes the hardship in writing and submits it to the District. However, the employee will make every reasonable effort to participate when so requested and will work cooperatively with the District to seek other programs or experiences which may fill the identified need. Employees not specifically requested to attend training classes may do so without pay if class size allows. When an employee is the instructor for activities described in the first paragraph of this section, the employee will receive an additional $5.00 for each hour worked as an instructor, consistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act. The time worked as an instructor must be reported on a timesheet. Employees who receive prior approval from their supervisors to attend training classes held during their regular work assignment will not be required to make up that time.