All sick leave benefits will be implemented in accordance with administrative guidelines, as the same may be changed from time to time by the Board, provided that such guidelines shall not be contrary to the express terms of this Agreement. Accrued sick leave is transferable within the Southern Illinois University system. Before sick-leave benefits are made available, the Faculty member's Chair or Dean, or the Director of Human Resources may require either documentation of an illness from a physician or other administratively acceptable proof. Employees may use their sick leave for personal illness or injury, for personal medical and dental appointments, for any approved family and medical leave, and for the illness or injury of a member of the immediate family or household. For these purposes, the immediate family is defined as spouse, child, and parent or corresponding in-laws.
Household includes anyone maintaining a family relationship living in the faculty member's home.
Pregnancy and related illnesses shall be considered by the Board as any other medical condition and will merit leave consideration as such. Up to six weeks of sick leave may be taken for the medical condition resulting from a normal delivery. Use of additional sick leave necessitated by medical complications requires acceptable documentation from the employee's physician. Abuse of sick leave shall constitute cause for serious discipline, up to and including dismissal. Sick leave must be exhausted before an employee can become eligible for SURS disability benefits.