Absense & Leaves

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Questions and Answers

How many consecutive days off with regular pay are allowed for the death of a sibling?

Two consecutive days

Four consecutive days

Five consecutive days (correct)

Three consecutive days

Which of the following relatives does not qualify for five consecutive days off with pay upon death?

Grandchild

Child

Aunt (correct)

Domestic partner

What should employees do if they receive a jury summons?

Notify their supervisor and ignore the summons

Request unpaid leave for the day

Provide a copy of the summons to their supervisor (correct)

Show up to jury duty but not inform their supervisor

What is the maximum amount of paid time off for jury duty at Spring Fire Department?

Five working days Signup and view all the answers

Which relative qualifies for two consecutive days off with pay upon death?

Grandparent-in-law Signup and view all the answers

What must employees provide if they call out sick before or after a scheduled vacation?

A physician's note Signup and view all the answers

What method of notification is not acceptable for reporting an absence?

Sending an email to HR Signup and view all the answers

What can happen to personnel who fail to notify their scheduled supervisor and the District Chief?

They will be considered absent without leave (AWOL) Signup and view all the answers

Who must be notified immediately if personnel are tardy?

The scheduled supervisor Signup and view all the answers

What type of leave is available to all personnel in the event of a death?

Bereavement leave Signup and view all the answers

How soon must personnel notify their supervisor after a death occurs to take bereavement leave?

Immediately Signup and view all the answers

What must personnel provide if requested during bereavement leave?

Verification of need Signup and view all the answers

What do full-time employees receive as bereavement pay for a close relative's death?

Five consecutive days or two consecutive days depending on relationship Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the Absences & Leaves policy?

To promote efficient operation and minimize unscheduled absences. Signup and view all the answers

What happens if personnel fail to report to duty for two consecutive scheduled shifts without notification?

They will be considered to have voluntarily terminated their employment. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a condition for an excused absence?

The absence occurs due to personal choice. Signup and view all the answers

Who is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Absences & Leaves policy?

Each individual personnel of the Spring Fire Department. Signup and view all the answers

What is required of full-time employees for every absence?

They must use accrued time, unless otherwise allowed Signup and view all the answers

What could be a potential consequence of unexcused absences or tardiness?

Disciplinary action up to termination. Signup and view all the answers

What defines an unexcused absence?

Absence that does not meet one or more conditions for excusal. Signup and view all the answers

How many hours must operations personnel contribute to the Catastrophic Leave Pool each year?

12 hours Signup and view all the answers

Which personnel are considered volunteers under the policy?

Personnel who are not hired employees. Signup and view all the answers

Who reviews and approves requests for withdrawal from the Catastrophic Leave Pool?

Assistant Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief of Operations, and Director of Human Resources Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum number of hours administrative personnel can withdraw from the Catastrophic Leave Pool?

160 hours Signup and view all the answers

What action might supervisors take if an employee frequently arrives late?

Implement disciplinary measures. Signup and view all the answers

When must donations to the Catastrophic Leave Pool occur?

In December of the previous year by the 15th Signup and view all the answers

What may be required from employees who call out sick for more than 48 hours?

A physician's note Signup and view all the answers

How long must an employee be employed to receive time from the Catastrophic Leave Pool?

1 year Signup and view all the answers

What is the withdrawal limit for operations personnel from the Catastrophic Leave Pool?

Only one-third of the available hours Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Accrued Time Usage

Full-time employees must use accrued time for every absence, unless specifically allowed by department policy (e.g. Bereavement, Jury Duty)
Refer to SFD.039 for vacation and sick usage for operations personnel
Refer to SFD.057 for vacation and sick usage for administration and support personnel
Refer to SFD.051 for further information on FMLA
Refer to SFD.050 for information on Military Leave

Catastrophic Leave

A Catastrophic Leave Pool is available to assist employees who have exhausted all PTO, sick leave and are absent from work due to illness or extenuating circumstances
Employees can contribute a portion of their PTO or sick leave to this pool
Employees must have been employed for at least one year to receive time from the pool
Operations personnel must contribute no less than 12 hours per year to withdraw from the pool
Administrative personnel must contribute no less than 8 hours per year to withdraw from the pool
There is a maximum withdrawal amount of 240 hours for Operations personnel and 160 hours for administrative personnel or one-third of the total hours available in the pool, whichever is less
Donations into the catastrophic leave pool must occur in December of the previous year by the 15th of the month
Human Resources maintains the available hours in the pool and provides required documentation

Physician's Note

Employees calling out sick for more than 48 hours shall provide a physician’s note
A physician's note may be requested for any absences, regardless of duration, when due to illness or injury

Purpose of Policy

The purpose of the policy is to promote efficient operation of Spring Fire Department and minimize unscheduled absences

Unexcused Absences and Tardiness

Unexcused absences and tardiness may result in disciplinary action, including termination of employment or volunteer personnel
Any personnel who fail to report to duty without notification to his or her supervisor for a period of two days or two consecutive scheduled shifts will be considered to have voluntarily terminated their employment or volunteer status with the Spring Fire Department

Definitions

Absence: The failure of a personnel to report to work when they are scheduled to work
Employee: Hired full-time or part-time personnel
Excused Absence: Absence occurs when all four conditions are met:
- provide sufficient notice to his or her supervisor
- the reason is found credible or acceptable by his or her supervisor
- such absence request is approved by his or her supervisor
- the employee has sufficient accrued time to cover such an absence
Volunteer: All personnel who are not hired employees
Unexcused Absence: Occurs when one or more of the conditions under the excused absences are not met
Sufficient Notice: In case of absence due to injury/illness, personnel must contact their scheduled supervisor and the District Chief as soon as they realize they will not be able to make their scheduled shift
Tardiness: Personnel are expected to report to duty on time. If personnel are unable to report as scheduled, they must notify their scheduled supervisor immediately upon determining they will be tardy. The notification does not excuse the tardiness, but simply notifies the supervisor that a schedule change may be necessary

Bereavement

All personnel are eligible for bereavement leave
Personnel who wish to take time off due to the death of the individual listed below must notify his or her supervisor immediately
The personnel may be required to provide verification of need (obituary, etc.)
Full-time employees receive bereavement pay (five consecutive or two consecutive days depending on relationship, as outlined below), in the event the full-time employee needs additional time off, PTO may be used with supervisor’s approval. 24 hours is equal to one day for operational personnel, 8 Hours is equal to one day for administrative and support personnel or for those who are not on a platoon shift.
- Up to five consecutive days off from regularly scheduled duty with regular pay in the event of the death of the employee's spouse, domestic partner, child, stepchild, sibling, step-sibling, parent, step-parent, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, or an adult who stood in loco parentis to the employee during childhood.
- Up to two consecutive days off from regularly scheduled duty with regular pay in the event of death of the employee's grandparent-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, or uncle.

Jury Duty

Spring Fire Department will provide up to five working days of paid time off to full-time employees who receive and honor a jury summons
The same will apply to a subpoena
Any employee appearing as a plaintiff, defendant or for a non-subpoena court appearance will not be paid his or her hourly wage for any time spent on such activities, PTO or unpaid time should be used for these instances
Notification from the state or federal courts of an obligation to serve on a jury or to act as a court witness must be provided to the employee's supervisor
The employee is required to provide copies of the subpoena or jury summons to his or her supervisor
The supervisor will verify the notification and make scheduling adjustments to accommodate the employee's obligation
The supervisor will also provide court documentation to the Human Resources Department for processing

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Description

This quiz covers important aspects of accrued time usage and catastrophic leave policies. Employees will learn about the different types of leave available, eligibility requirements, and contribution stipulations for accessing the leave pool. Understanding these policies is essential for navigating employee benefits effectively.