EMPLOYEE LEAVE AVAILABILITY

2007-2008

PRESENTATION OUTLINE• PAID LEAVES• UNPAID LEAVES• OTHER LEAVES• VACATIONS• HEALTH, DENTAL AND LIFE INSURANCE• OPTIONAL LIFE, ACCIDENT AND DISABILITY INS.• WORKERS’ COMP AND UNEMPLOYMENT INS.• OTHER BENEFIT PROGRAMS

PAID LEAVES

• Local Sick Leave • State Sick Leave (old state) • State Personal Leave (new state)• Extended Sick Leave• Sick Leave Bank Note: Leaves shall be recorded in whole workdays and half workdays

only

LOCAL SICK LEAVE

• Five “Equivalent Workdays” per year-Accumulative up to 30 days

• Available for use after first workday-see policy• First paid leave to be used in case of illness (employee

or immediate family)• No limit on amount used up to 30 days NOTE: Illness lasting 5 or more consecutive workdays requires a medical certification

of illness and of fitness to return to work. Illness lasting 3 or more consecutive workdays for immediate family requires medical certification of illness.

IMMEDIATE FAMILY• Spouse, son, daughter, parents

• Sibling, step sibling

• In Laws: parents, son, daughter, siblings

• Grandparent, grandchild

• Any person who may be residing in the employee’s household at time of death.

STATE SICK LEAVE(OLD STATE LEAVE)

• Accumulated prior to the 1995-96 school yr.• Available for use at beginning of year• Second paid leave to be used in case of illness

(employee or immediate family)• No limit on accumulated amount used NOTE: Illness lasting 5 or more consecutive workdays requires a medical certification

of illness and of fitness to return to work.Illness lasting 3 or more consecutive workdays for immediate family requires medical certification of illness.

LOCAL SICK LEAVE &STATE SICK LEAVE(OLD STATE LEAVE)

USED ONLY FOR:• Illness of the employee• Illness of a member of the employee’s immediate

family• Family emergency• Death in the employee’s immediate family

STATE PERSONAL LEAVE(NEW STATE LEAVE)

Non-Discretionary: Leave that is taken for personal or family emergency, or death in the family . Allows very little or no advance planning and will be granted in the same manner as sick leave.

Discretionary: Leave taken at an employee’s discretion and that can be scheduled in advance. Notice of the request must be submitted ten (10) days in advance, or as soon as possible in the case of an emergency, to his or her principal or supervisor.

STATE PERSONAL LEAVE(NEW STATE LEAVE)

• Five “Equivalent Workdays” per year -Accumulative• Available for use at beginning of year• Third paid leave to be used in case of illness (employee or

immediate family)• No limit on amount used for illness up to accumulated

balance with proper medical certification• May be used at the employee’s discretion for non-illness

absences subject to following limitations:

STATE PERSONAL LEAVE (limitations)

• Request shall be submitted to Principal/Supervisor 10 days in advance

• May not be taken for more than 3 consecutive days• Not allowed the day before or after a school holiday

or days scheduled for TEKS Note: District MAY NOT ask the purpose, or put restrictions on the purpose,

for which state personal leave can be used !

EXTENDED SICK LEAVE

• All other paid leave must have been exhausted• Applies to employee or member of immediate family • Substitute daily rate ($50) shall be deducted from the pay

of professional employees• Half a day’s daily rate, not to exceed $50 per day,

deducted from paraprofessional/support personnel

EXTENDED SICK LEAVEcontinued

• Limited to an illness or disability that is life-threatening and/or requires at least five days of continued hospitalization

• Request for Extended Sick Leave shall be supported with a statement from a healthcare provider.

• Maximum 15 days

SICK LEAVE BANK

• Eligible employees may join SLB by contributing 3 days of available local sick leave

• Membership application form must be completed and submitted to Human Resources

• Enrollment period is from August 1 through September 30th of each school year

SICK LEAVE BANKcontinued

• Provides additional paid sick leave, up to 40 days per year, to employees who are members

• Leave granted only in event of a catastrophic illness or injury resulting in member’s inability to perform basic job function.

Note: Must be requested according to guidelines detailed in the Sick Leave Bank Handbook.

UNPAID LEAVES

• Family Medical Leave

• Temporary Disability Leave

FEDERAL FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVEACT (FMLA)

• Employee shall provide at least 30 days or “as soon as practical” notice of absence before FML is to begin.

• Employee shall provide medical certification of the illness or disability

• Must be employed for at least 12 months• Must have worked at least 1, 250 hours during the

previous 12 month period

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACTcontinued

• District continues to pay employee portion of group health plan benefits accrued prior to beginning of leave

• Employee is entitled to be restored to same/similiar position

• Up to 12 workweeks of leave per 12 month period (Both spouses employed, leave may be limited to combined total of 12 weeks)

• Employee shall provide medical certification of their ability & fitness to return to work

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACTcontinued

MAY BE USED FOR:

• Birth, adoption, placement for foster care• Care for employee’s spouse, child, parent who has

a serious health condition• Employee’s serious health condition• Employee’s continued treatment by a healthcare

provider for a period of incapacity for various illnesses including pregnancy.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR TEMPORARY DISABILITY

• Employee shall provide medical certification of the illness or disability

• Available to eligible employees (full time educators)• Contract or employment may not be terminated• Up to 180 Calendar days• Medical certification of ability and fitness to return to

work.

OTHER LEAVES

• Assault Leave: up to two years paid leave

• Bereavement (funeral) Leave: up to five days state and/or local leave

• Jury Duty: Employee’s compliance with a Jury summons is paid leave

• State Military Leave (Short Term): up to fifteen days of paid leave

• State Military Leave (Long Term): non paid leave, employee entitled to be re-employed

VACATION

• Available to employees on a 244, 250 or 260 calendar.• 10 days earned on employees leave date after

employee has worked one full year in a 244, 250 or 260 calendar.

• If a person was earning vacation and transferred to another department, i.e., custodial to maintenance, the leave date (anniversary date) should not change.

• Vacation cannot be used before it is earned.

HEALTH, DENTAL ANDLIFE INSURANCE

• Health Insurance: HMO and PPO options available through Valley Health Plans. Employer pays employee premium on the HMO low plan, employee pays for HMO high, PPO plan and/or any dependent coverage.

• Dental Insurance: Provided by Life-Re. Employee is responsible for all premiums.

• Life Insurance: Provided by Met-Life ($10,000/$20,000). Employer pays all premiums.

NOTE: At their own expense, employees may enroll in supplemental insurance programs and in some cases premiums MAY be payroll deducted.

OPTIONAL LIFE, ACCIDENT & LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE

• Optional Life & Accident: Provided by MetLife, up to $500,000.

• Long Term Disability Insurance: Provided by American Fidelity Assurance Company.

WORKERS’ AND UNEMPLOYMENTCOMPENSATION INSURANCE

• Workers’ Compensation: In accordance with state law, the District provides workers’ compensation benefits to employees who suffer a work-related illness or injured on the job.

• Unemployment Compensation: Employees who have been laid off or terminated through no fault of their own may be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits under the Texas Unemployment Compensation Act.

CAFETERIA PLAN BENEFITS(SECTION 125 )

• This plan enables eligible employees to pay certain insurance premiums on a pretax basis.

• Includes Medical Reimbursement Account and Dependent Care Assistance Account

• New employees must accept or reject this benefit during their first month of employment.

• All employees must accept or reject this benefit on an annual basis and during open enrollment (September of each year).

403B ANNUNITY PROGRAM

• Enables employees to invest pre-tax money via payroll deduction for future retirement purposes.

• Approximately twenty-five TRS approved insurance companies, some with local representatives, to choose from.

• Employee can add, change, delete annuity deduction on a monthly basis.

OTHER BENEFIT PROGRAMS

• All classroom teachers with perfect attendance receive a semester bonus.

• A laptop computer is available to each teacher• Employees of the District are covered by the

Teachers Retirement System of Texas (www.trs.state.tx.us)

• Savings and loan programs available by payroll deductions with the Harlingen Area Teachers Credit Union.