Teachers Sick Bank

SICK LEAVE BANK OPERATIONAL RULES

The purpose of the Sick Leave Bank as provided for in the Master Agreement is to offer income protection to contributing members who must be absent from their jobs for an extended period or who must be frequently absent because of prolonged or continuing illness beyond their normal control, or incapacitating accident.

Sick Leave Bank Enrollment

A. Any member of the bargaining unit who elects to participate in the Sick Leave Bank must contribute one day of the member's sick leave to the Sick Leave Bank to qualify for Bank membership. Members shall automatically be enrolled into the Sick Leave Bank unless they opt-out. Members not wishing to participate shall complete a Sick Leave Bank Unenrollment form by the first Friday in October or within 30 calendar days after their first day of employment.

B. Sick Leave Bank replenishment shall occur on the first Friday in October of each school year. Notice of replenishment shall be sent to all bargaining unit members by September 1st of each school year. The notice shall include the rules of the Sick Leave Bank, membership qualifications, and how to opt-out.

C. New hires and teachers returning from leave will be informed of the Sick Leave Bank by the Human Resources Office at the time of their orientation interview provided, however, it shall be the responsibility of the teacher to report to the Human Resources Office for such orientation interview.  New hires shall automatically be enrolled into the Sick Leave Bank unless they opt-out. New hires not wishing to participate shall complete a Sick Leave Bank Unenrollment form within 30 calendar days after their first day of employment to unenroll.

D. Teachers who are drawing days from the Sick Leave Bank at the time a call is made for replenishment of the bank will be continued as members of the bank.  Teachers who have exhausted their current and accumulated sick leave at the time a call is made for replenishment of the bank will be continued as members of the bank provided, they agree to contribute a day to the bank on the first day of the new school year next following.

E.      Teachers returning from authorized leave during the time a call is made for replenishment of the bank and the deadline for contributing will be 30 calendar days from the date their employment resumes to opt out of contributing to the bank.

F.     A Sick Bank replenishment shall not take place if the balance of the Sick Bank Leave is two times or greater than the number of eligible members in the unit.

G. Teachers who elect not to continue opting out of their membership in the Sick Leave Bank may rejoin the bank by contributing one day of their accumulated sick leave to the bank only during the following times:

a.  As outlined in Paragraph A

b.  If a replenishment is required at any other time as outlined in Paragraph EE.

H.    Contributing members may apply for withdrawal from the Sick Leave Bank for reasons of prolonged or continuing illness or incapacitating accident of the contributing member in accordance with the Sick Leave Bank rules.  Approved Sick Leave Bank withdrawals may only begin upon depletion of accumulated sick leave.

Sick Leave Bank Use

I.   An applicant must apply for withdrawal on a Request for Withdrawal Form within five (5) working days from the date on which the applicant could reasonably have known the illness was continuing, or prolonged, or that the accident was incapacitating.

J.  Request for Withdrawal forms are to be made with the Human Resources Office; hr@nashua.edu

K. The decision of the Sick Leave Bank Committee, as to the reasonable date of first knowledge, shall be final.  Failure to apply within the required period may result in an automatic rejection of the application.

L.  Serious extended illness or an incapacitating accident is defined as an illness or accident requiring continuous absence from work for ten (10) or more working days.

M.    In all instances, a statement by a licensed physician must be submitted to HR to accompany a withdrawal request.  That statement shall specify:

a.      the nature of the illness or incapacitating accident;

b.      the date of the initial occurrence of the illness or incapacitating accident;

c.      that the individual is medically unable to perform his/her normal job responsibilities; and,

d.      the anticipated period during which the individual will be medically unable to perform his/her normal job responsibilities.

N.     The Sick Leave Bank Committee may require periodic statements from a licensed physician specifying the current status of the illness or incapacitating accident, that the eligible member is unable to resume his/her normal job responsibilities because of that illness or accident, and the anticipated period during which the individual will be medically unable to perform his/her normal job responsibilities.

O.    In no instance shall the physician's estimate, as to the period during which the individual may be medically unable to perform his/her normal job responsibilities be considered binding nor shall physical incapacity in excess of the estimated time jeopardize the individual's request for additional Sick Leave Bank withdrawals.

P.     In instances where withdrawals are granted for a chronic or recurring illness, or for required medical treatment that is unavailable other than during normal work hours for an illness or accident, adequate documentation must be supplied by the individual making the withdrawal that the absence was due to a chronic or recurring illness or for required medical treatment that is unavailable other than during normal work hours.

Q.    No withdrawals may be granted during the period an eligible member is on an authorized leave of absence.

R.     Withdrawals shall be granted only for scheduled working days missed because of prolonged or continuous illness, or an incapacitating accident.

Member Entitlement

For a single prolonged or continuing illness, or incapacitating accident, or a single work year:

S.     Add columns 1, 2, and 3 to get the total member entitlement, but in no instance may the total exceed 120 days