GCBDD/GDBDD - Sick Time for Non-Union Employees

“Employee” means an individual who is employed by the district and who is paid on an hourly, stipend or salary basis, and for whom withholding is required under Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 316.162-316.221. The definition does not include volunteers or independent contractors.

Employees qualify to begin earning and accruing sick time on the first day of employment with the district.

A district employing 10 or more employees shall allow an eligible employee to access up to 40 hours of paid sick time per year. Paid sick time of 40 hours shall be front-loaded to an employee at the beginning of each year.

The employee may carry up to 40 hours of unused sick time from one year to the subsequent year. [1] An employee is limited to accruing no more than 80 hours of sick time.

Sick time shall be taken in hourly increments and may be used for the employee’s or a family member’s[2] mental or physical illness, injury or health condition, need for medical diagnosis, care or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury or health condition or need for preventive care, or for reasons consistent with the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or OFLA. Sick time may also be used in the event of a public health emergency.

The use of sick time may not lead to, or result in, an adverse employment action against the employee.

The district reserves the right per the collective bargaining agreement, to require proof of personal illness or injury from an employee, including a medical examination by a physician chosen and paid for by the district. An employee refusing to submit to such an examination or to provide other evidence as required by the district, shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

When the reason for sick time is consistent with FMLA/OFLA leave, the sick time and the FMLA/OFLA leave may run concurrently.

When the reason for sick time is consistent with ORS 332.507, the sick time and leave pursuant to ORS 332.507 may run concurrently.

If the reason for sick time is a foreseeable absence, the district may require the employee to provide advance notice of their intention to use sick time within 10 days of the requested sick time, or as soon as practicable. When the employee uses sick time for a foreseeable absence, the employee shall take reasonable effort to schedule the sick time in a manner that does not unduly disrupt the operations of the district (e.g., grading deadlines, inservice training, mandatory meetings).

If the reason for sick time is unforeseeable, such as an emergency, accident or sudden illness, the employee shall notify the district consistent with the reporting time established by the district or as soon as practicable.

The district shall establish a standard process to track the eligibility for sick time of a substitute.

END OF POLICY

1 If the district chooses to limit the accrual or usage, the district must choose language in the bracketed sentence and keep this sentence in policy.
2 “Family member” is defined by the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA).

Legal Reference(s)