Sick leave begins to accumulate with employment but does not become available to the employee until completion of two (2) weeks of employment.

Sick leave accrues biweekly at the rate of four (4) hours for each two (2) weeks of employment except that:

1. Maximum sick leave accrual is one hundred thirty-two (132) days.

2. Part-time employees shall accrue sick leave in proportion to straight time hours employed each pay period.

3. Full-time employees must have 40 hours of paid employment each pay period to accrue any sick leave.

4. Part-time employees who become full-time without a break in service, will retain their previously accrued sick leave.

Sick leave is available for the following purposes and covers employees and members of the employee's immediate family, who, in this instance, shall include spouse, children, siblings, parents/foster parents, grandparents, grandchildren of the employee or spouse. An addition to this list shall include legal guardianship, other direct dependants, or an individual whom an employee has a continuing personal arrangement which has existed over an extended period of time. Additional leave may be granted in special cases, subject to the approval of the Employer, such additional leave to be chargeable to sick leave or to be without pay.

1. Personal illness, injury, quarantine or disability.

2. Medical appointments and dental appointments.

3. Reasonable length of time for the employee to serve as pallbearer or to attend a funeral.

4. To compensate an employee for the difference between payments received under the Worker's Disability Act and the employee's regular wages.

A statement from the University designated physician and/or the employee's physician, or a sworn affidavit, may be required to sustain a claim of absence because of illness, injury, or disability. The University reserves the right to have the University's designated physician make the final decision.

A seniority employee who suffers injury or illness compensable under the Worker's Compensation Act shall continue to receive his/her regular rate of pay for the time lost during the first seven (7) days not covered by the Worker's Compensation Act. In the event of dispute, the Medical Dispute clause in Section 36 of this Agreement shall apply as regards the settlement of such dispute. Following the first seven (7) days, such seniority employee shall be paid the difference between his/her regular wages and payment received under the provisions of the Act, to be deducted from accumulated sick leave, prorated. If, when sick leave is exhausted, the employee is still unable to return to work, the employee will remain on Worker's Compensation status until his/her benefits are exhausted.

For seniority employees who are off work due to work-related illness or injury, the Employer will continue to provide its contributions to group health, group life and group long-term disability insurance for up to one (1) year after lost time from work began.

Sick leave shall not be allowed in advance of being earned. Employees who have exhausted their sick leave credit and are still unable to return to work may be paid for any unused vacation credits. When a personal illness or injury disability has used up the total sick leave and vacation credit, the employee shall apply for a leave of absence, consistent with the Leaves of Absence in Section 34 of this Agreement. Employees on vacation may be granted accrued sick leave in lieu of vacation if their illness during their vacation period is approved by the Department Head. The Department Head may require a physician's statement to sustain the claim.

Employees returning from an approved leave or being recalled from layoff shall have credited to them any unused sick leave previously earned. This provision shall not apply to rehires.

Employees who leave to enter the Armed Forces of the United States under the provisions of the Selective Service Act, who are members of the Armed Forces and are called to active duty, or who enlist in the Armed Forces, shall, upon re-employment by the University, be credited with any unused sick leave previously earned; provided that such re-employment takes place within ninety (90) days after discharge or release from active duty in the Armed Forces.

Employees on leaves of absence without pay, or on layoff, shall not accrue sick leave during such period.

All payments for sick leave shall be made at the employee's regular rate of pay except those made in accordance with Section 24, Shift Differential.

At the conclusion of an employee's sick leave the University, at its option and without cost to the employees, may require that a physician or physicians of its choosing examine the employee to determine his fitness to return to work.

Employees must notify their immediate Supervisor, or designated representative, when they are absent from work for any reason, in accordance with established departmental procedure. If an employee finds that he/she will be absent from work longer than first anticipated he/she must notify his Supervisor at least once a week, unless other arrangements are made.

All bargaining unit employees are eligible to participate in the University Sick Leave Pool.

Each employee who uses five (5) or less sick leave days in a calendar year will receive one compensation day to be used at a time mutually agreed upon between the employer and employee. Each employee who used eight (8) hours or less of sick leave will receive a second compensation day. Funeral Leave, as defined in Section 33A. will not be considered as sick leave days for this incentive program.