Section 1. Employees will earn sick leave in accordance with applicable law, rules, and regulations. Sick leave will be charged in one quarter (1/4) hour increments. The Parties recognize the importance of sick leave and the obligation of the employee, as well as the advantage to the employee to utilize it only when incapacitated for duty by sickness, injury, or other valid reasons. The Parties agree to jointly encourage employees to conserve such leave so that it will be available to the employees in the event of an extended illness.

Section 2. Approval of sick leave will be granted to employees when it is determined they are incapacitated for performance of their duties such as sickness, injury, or pregnancy. Sick leave is also appropriate when requested in advance for medical, dental or optical examination or treatment and will normally be granted. The employee will request the sick leave at least one week in advance if the employee has that much notice of the examination or treatment. Sick leave will also be approved when as determined by health authorities having jurisdiction or by a health care provider that the employees presence on the job would jeopardize the health of others because of exposure to a communicable disease.

Section 3. Unscheduled Sick Leave Procedures

Where unscheduled sick leave is requested the following procedures will be followed:

A. If the need arises while the employee is at work, the employee shall notify the Supervisor of the nature of the illness, the anticipated extent of their absence, and seek the Supervisor's approval for sick leave or leave without pay;

B. If the employee is unable to report for duty due to an illness or other acceptable medical emergency, they must notify their supervisor prior to the beginning of the shift. Where the employee's supervisor is not normally available, the employee must contact the supervisor within the first hour of the start of the shift, if possible; or

C. Situations that prevent the employee from being able to call will be addressed on a case by case basis. This would include instances where the employee is incapacitated and unable to call. In these instances, the supervisor will accept calls from an alternate provided the person identifies himself/herself and he/she can provide the information required. In these cases medical documentation will be required.

Section 4. Documentation to Support Absences

An employee shall not normally be required to furnish a doctor's certificate to substantiate requests for approval of sick leave unless such sick leave exceeds three working days of continuous duration. Absences of three (3) days or less may be self certificated by the employee by submitting an SF-71, except in individual cases where an employee has been placed on Special Leave Procedures or the leave approving official has reason to question the validity of the sick leave request. Medical certificates must be submitted upon return from sick leave.

Section 5. Chronic Conditions

Employees who are suffering from a chronic condition which may require the use of unscheduled sick leave on a regular and recurring basis, must establish the chronic nature of their illness with medical documentation. The documentation shall indicate how often it is anticipated that the employee may be incapacitated by the chronic condition and the likelihood that the condition may or may not continue and/or its expected duration. In those instances, the employee will not normally be required to provide medical documentation for additional sick leave usage, related to the chronic condition.

Section 6. Advance Sick Leave

An employee may request up to 240 hours advanced sick leave. Advanced sick leave approval will be at the appropriate level. An employee who is under Special Leave Procedures, may or may not be granted advance sick leave. For other employees advanced sick leave will be given when all of the following conditions are met:

A. The employee is eligible to earn sick leave;

B. There is no reason to believe the employee will not return to work after having used the leave;

C. The employee has provided acceptable medical documentation of the need for advanced sick leave; and

D. There is reason to believe that the employee will accrue enough sick leave to pay the advance back.

Section 7. Confidentiality

The employer will treat as confidential any medical information related to the employee in support of a request for sick leave. The Employer may disclose such information subject to its Privacy Act obligations for work related reasons on a need to know basis only.