Family Leave

Sni Valley provides family leaves of absence without pay to eligible employees who wish to take time off from work duties to fulfill family obligations relating directly to childbirth, adoption, or placement of a foster child; or to care for a child, spouse, or parent with a serious health condition. A serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility; or continuing treatment by a health care provider.

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

Eligible employees may request family leave only after having completed 365 calendar days of service. Eligible employees should make requests for family leave to their supervisors at least 30 days in advance of foreseeable events and as soon as possible for unforeseeable events.

Employees requesting family leave related to the serious health condition of a child, spouse, or parent may be required to submit a health care provider's statement verifying the need for a family leave to provide care, its beginning and expected ending dates, and the estimated time required.

Eligible employees may request up to the maximum amount of time allowed by the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Any combination of family leave and medical leave may not exceed this maximum limit. If this initial period of absence proves insufficient, consideration will be given to a written request for a single extension of no more than 14 calendar days. Employees will be required to first use any accrued paid leave time before taking unpaid family leave. Married employee couples may be restricted to a combined total of the maximum amount of leave allowed by the FMLA for childbirth, adoption, or placement of a foster child; or to care for a parent with a serious health condition.

Subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of the applicable plans, Sni Valley will continue to provide health insurance benefits for the full period of the approved family leave.

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 family 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 family 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.  602  Issued  6/29/2000  Applicable  6/29/2000