Medical Leave

Sni Valley provides medical leaves of absence without pay to eligible employees who are temporarily unable to work due to a serious health condition or disability. For purposes of this policy, serious health conditions or disabilities include inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility; continuing treatment by a health care provider; and temporary disabilities associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions.

Regular full-time employees are eligible to request medical leave as described in this policy:

Eligible employees may request medical leave only after having completed 365 calendar days of service. Exceptions to the service requirement will be considered to accommodate disabilities.

Eligible employees should make requests for medical leave to their supervisors at least 30 days in advance of foreseeable events and as soon as possible for unforeseeable events.

A health care provider's statement must be submitted verifying the need for medical leave and its beginning and expected ending dates. Any changes in this information should be promptly reported to Sni Valley. Employees returning from medical leave must submit a health care provider's verification of their fitness to return to work.

The District has the right to have the employee tested to his/her job description by a District selected physician, when the employee has been on medical leave for more than 14 days. The test will be at the District's expense.

Eligible employees are normally granted leave for the period of the disability, in accordance with the time period set forth in the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Any combination of medical leave and family leave may not exceed the maximum limit stipulated in the FMLA. If the initial period of approved absence proves insufficient, consideration will be given to a request for an extension. Employees will be required to first use any accrued paid leave time before taking unpaid medical leave.

Employees who sustain work-related injuries are eligible for a medical leave of absence for the period of disability in accordance with all applicable laws covering occupational disabilities.

Subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of the applicable plans, health insurance benefits will be provided by Sni Valley until the end of the month in which the medical leave begins. At that time, employees will become responsible for the full costs of these benefits if they wish coverage to continue. When the employee returns from medical leave, benefits will again be provided by Sni Valley according to the applicable plans.

Benefit accruals, such as vacation, sick leave, or holiday benefits, will be suspended during the leave and will resume upon return to active employment.

So that an employee's return to work can be properly scheduled, an employee on medical leave is requested to provide Sni Valley with at least two weeks advance notice of the date the employee intends to return to work. When a medical leave ends, the employee will be reinstated to the same position, if it is available, or to an equivalent position for which the employee is qualified.

If an employee fails to return to work on the agreed upon return date, Sni Valley will assume that the employee has resigned.

Policy No.  601  Issued  6/29/2000  Applicable  12/12/2006