XXXX SHORT-TERM DISABILITY LEAVE. 1. An employee who is unable to perform the essential functions of their position with reasonable accommodation but who is not totally and permanently disabled from gainful employment may elect to use available leave, sick bank leave or an unpaid leave of absence, or they may apply for short-term disability through PERA.
2. An employee approved for short-term leave (STD) shall continue to be employed by the District during the term of their short-term disability.
3. Employees on STD leave may, at their discretion, elect to use 50% of an annual day, sick day, accrued day or sick leave bank day for each day during the term of the short-term disability, until such time as their accumulated leave is exhausted or they elect to discontinue use of such leave. The use of sick leave bank days in such instances shall be subject to the sick leave bank rules and guidelines.
4. According to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) an employee returning from STD leave shall be assigned to the same position or position comparable to the one they left upon commencement of the STD leave.
5. Any employee who is on or who is approved for STD leave and for whom retraining or rehabilitation is being considered shall be involved in any discussion between the District and PERA or PERA’s STD program administrator. No employee shall be placed in a retraining or rehabilitation program without the employee’s expressed, written consent.
