Bonita Springs Fire Return to Work From Extended Leave Policy PDF

Return to Work/Duty from Extended Leave DISTRIBUTION: ORIGINATOR: DATE: SUBJECT: All Employees Fire Chief Gregory DeWitt November 14, 2023 Return to work from extended leave #23-0003 Scope: To ensure every employee returning to duty meets the requirements/standards/policies set forth by the BSFC&...

Return to Work/Duty from Extended Leave DISTRIBUTION: ORIGINATOR: DATE: SUBJECT: All Employees Fire Chief Gregory DeWitt November 14, 2023 Return to work from extended leave #23-0003 Scope: To ensure every employee returning to duty meets the requirements/standards/policies set forth by the BSFC&RD outlined in their job description. Purpose:  The purpose is to establish a set of procedures for personnel returning to normal work/duty from an extended leave. Definitions  Consecutive Days – Consecutive days are counted from the last documented regular workday you were assigned to. The one-hundred and eighty (180) days are total consecutive days not counted as ‘business days’ only.  Extended Leave – medical leave, scheduled leave of absence, unscheduled leave of absence, unapproved leave, personal leave or any other one-hundred and eighty (180) day consecutive leave from duty.  Bonita Spring Fire Control and Rescue District Member (Employee) – Any person employed by the BSFC&RD. This includes, but is not limited to, employees referenced as part time and/or full time in any division.  Essential Job Functions – shall mean all job functions that may be required to be performed by the employee on active duty.  Specific Job Functions – shall mean any specific skills, certifications or requirements pertaining to a specific roll or employee position.  40-Hour Work Week– shall mean Monday thru Friday from 0800-1700 with an hour provided for lunch break. Members working a 40-hour workweek will get the paid day off on District approved Holidays. Employees assigned to the Suppression division and who are then assigned to 40-hour workweek will have their pay and hourly accrual adjusted to provide the same rate of pay and time. Procedures:  Employees are to report to the Fire Chief or designee, as soon as possible, when any type of extended leave is expected and so the District has an outline for the estimated duration of the leave. The extended leave will begin upon approval from the Fire Chief. Any unscheduled/unapproved extended leave will begin from the last documented regular day of work and will follow the consecutive day definition. 1  Employees must report to the Fire Chief or designee on a monthly (30-Day) basis giving a status update and revised duration for the leave.  If an employee meets the criteria for extended leave and does not report to the Fire Chief; it will be assumed as a breach of duty (voluntary resignation) and could result in termination.  If the employee going on leave is a supervisory rank (i.e. Lieutenant, Captain, Coordinator, etc.), or in a special assignment/position, their roll can be temporarily reassigned until the member on leave returns to service.  Employees returning from an extended medical leave shall obtain a medical release from a physician certified in the area pertaining to the illness/injury/condition. It is the employee’s responsibility to hand-in their return to work documentation that includes the attending physicians contact information to the Huma Resource Director.  The District reserves the right to require a second medical opinion regarding a physician’s certification of an employee’s ability to return to work in the event the employee demonstrates an inability to perform essential job functions. Any such second opinion will be paid for by the District and shall be performed by a Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District designated physician.  The District shall assure that employees are physically capable of performing duties/skills that may be assigned to them during emergencies or training activities or any department functions as defined in their job descriptions.  The District shall not permit employees with known physical limitations reasonably identifiable to the employer to participate in emergency or training activities, unless a physician has released the employee to participate in such activities.  When under medical restrictions, the employee shall not be assigned to work, other than what has been approved by a physician.  When an employee meets the criteria for extended leave for any reason, they shall be required to receive focused training from the Fire Chief, or designee to update them on any changes/updates in the department during the employee’s absence. o Additional training may be required depending on specific job functions. o All missed required/mandatory training shall be satisfactorily completed and manipulative training exercises may be assigned to ensure the employee is technically and physically capable of performing duties as assigned. The Following will only apply to Suppression and Training Employees 2 FIREFIGHTER EMT AND/OR PMD SPECIFIC REQUIRMENTS:  When returning from extended leave, the employee will be assigned to a 40-Hour workweek and will meet with the Fire Chief or designee, to develop a written training plan to establish requirements. The Fire Chief may direct the employee to a designee (i.e. Deputy Chief of EMS or Training Officers) to develop a written specific training plan/requirements.  Specific training requirements will be assigned to ensure a member is technically and physically capable of performing medical skills associated with their level of service and within their scope of practice. These requirements can include, but are not limited to, documented clinical procedures, Fire/Special Operations SOP/SOG’s, additional skills/assessment training, focused training assignments relating to current Fire/Special Operations , EMS Protocols or any other assignments related to ensuring the member is technically and physically capable of performing adequate and appropriate medical skills. The District will use the yearly EMS assessment as the standard for this section.  Paramedics returning from extended leave may need to report to the District’s Medical Director or designee for clearance. These requirements will be at the discretion of the current Medical Director.  Returning employees will be required to complete our current air management program.  The requirements for returning from extended leave will be at the discretion of the Fire Chief. Precautions Employees will remain on a 40-hour workweek until all of the above skills/procedures are satisfactorily completed. Employees who are assigned in the role of driver/engineers will not be required to continue on 40-hour workweek if this is the only skill remaining to complete. 3