Leaves of absence for a non-job incurred illness or injury may be granted for a maximum of twenty-six bi-weekly pay periods (one year). A medical leave of absence request must be supported by a physician’s statement that includes sufficient information to determine if the leave is appropriate (i.e., if the leave request is for elective surgery, then granting it is more discretionary than if the leave is for emergency medical treatment).
The employee must use any accrued sick leave during his or her leave of absence if he/she is away from work due to his/her own injury or illness. The use of accrued vacation, compensatory time or holiday hours is not required, but is permitted at the employee’s request once all sick leave is exhausted. For medical leaves of absence to care for a family member with a serious medical condition covered by FMLA/CFRA (please see below), an employee may use his/her accrued sick leave, but it is not required. All intermittent leaves require advance review and approval by the Disability Program Manager.
An employee in an unpaid status during a leave of absence for illness or injury is entitled to two bi-weekly pay periods of payment of the County’s portion of health, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance premiums for each year of County service (or major fraction thereof), up to a maximum of twenty-six bi-weekly pay periods payment of premiums (one year).