Leave of Absence for Illness or Injury (Medical Leave)
Leaves of absence for medical reasons or on account of illness or injury, which are not job incurred. This includes childbirth, disabilities caused or contributed to by pregnancy, miscarriage and abortion or care for an immediate family member who has suffered an illness or injury. Leaves of this type require that the employee use all sick leave credits prior to being in an unpaid status. A physician’s statement substantiating the condition is required. Unpaid leave may be granted up to a maximum period of 26 full biweekly pay periods.
Leave of Absence for Personal Reasons
Leaves of absence for personal reasons including extended vacation. All vacation and holiday time must be used prior to being granted unpaid leave. Unpaid leave may be granted for a maximum period of 13 full biweekly pay periods.
Parental Leave of Absence
An employee may be granted a leave of absence to fulfill parenting responsibilities during the period of 1 year following the child’s birth, or 1 year following the placement of a child with an employee in connection with the adoption or foster care for the child by the employee. Leave under this section shall be for a maximum period of 13 biweekly pay periods including all time in a paid or non-paid status. An employee is not required to exhaust paid leave prior to being granted Parental Leave but may use up to 30 working days of sick leave.
Military Leave of Absence
The provisions of the Military and Veterans Code of the State of California shall govern military leave of County employees. Orders must be attached.
Educational Leave of Absence with Pay
(For Educational Leave of Absence without Pay use Leave of Absence for Personal Reasons). Educational leaves may be granted to employees for a maximum of 65 working days during a 52 biweekly period for the purpose of attending a formal training or educational course of study. Eligibility for such leaves will be limited to employees with at least 13 biweekly periods of continuous service and who are not extra help or temporary. Such leaves will be granted only in cases where there is a reasonable expectation that the employee’s work performance or value to the County will be enhanced as a result of the course of study. A separate Leave of Absence Request form must accompany this form.
Other Leave
For more information regarding these types of leaves of absence, refer to the County’s Ordinance Code:
- Leave of Absence to Accept Temporary Employment Outside the County Government
- Leave of Absence to Accept a Position in the Unclassified Service
- Leave of Absence to Fill an Unexpired Term in an Elective Office
- Absence Due to Required Attendance in Court.
Medical Statement:
A statement of an attending licensed health care professional certifying the nature, extent, and probable period of your absence MUST be attached to the request if indicated. If you are released to return to work with limitations or restrictions on your ability to perform your normal duties, you must submit the medical statement listing these limitations/restrictions at least five working days prior to the scheduled return-to-work date. The restrictions/limitations will be reviewed to determine whether you can return to work under these conditions.
Leave of Absence Request Form
This form can be found on the HR Department website at
http://hr.smcgov.org/documents/leave-absence-form