Source: http://www.sclscal.org/legal-updates/preview/1
Timestamp: 2017-10-19 03:49:15
Document Index: 176629446

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 87784', '§ 88207', '§ 87784', '§ 88207', '§ 87045', '§ 87788', '§ 230', '§ 1500', '§ 87764']

School and College Legal Services of California
Employees' Use of Leaves for Fire-Related Absences (CCD)
Printable Version of this Legal Update:
23-2017cc_-_employees_use_of_leaves_for_fire-related_absences_mnr-era.pdf
To: Superintendents/Presidents/Chancellors, Member Community College Districts (CCD)
From: Mia N. Robertshaw, Associate General Counsel and Ellie R. Austin, Schools Legal Counsel
Subject: Employees’ Use of Leaves for Fire-Related Absences
Memo No. 23-2017 (CC)
This Legal Update outlines which leaves may be used for fire-related absences. Districts should refer to their own board policies, administrative procedures, and collective bargaining agreements, which may differ from the information in this Legal Update, and which may allow for leaves that are not addressed here. A recommendation is set forth at the end of this Legal Update. Please be aware that changes to leaves must be negotiated with the exclusive representative.
Personal Necessity Leave
By law, academic employees may use up to six (6) days of illness or injury leave each year for “cases of personal necessity.”[1] For classified employees, the law provides that no more than seven (7) days of illness or injury leave may be used for personal necessity unless the collective bargaining agreement allows it or, for unrepresented employees, board policy allows it.[2]
Depending on a district’s rules governing personal necessity leave, it is very likely that such leave would cover many fire-related reasons for which employees may have to be absent from work.
An academic employee is not required to secure advanced permission for leave taken for 1) death or serious illness of a member of the employee’s immediate family; or 2) accident involving the employee’s person or property or the person or property of a member of the employee’s immediate family.[3] Other permissible uses of personal necessity leave are specified in board policies, administrative procedures, and collective bargaining agreements.
A classified employee may use personal necessity leave for: 1) death of an immediate family member; 2) accident involving the employee’s person or property or the person or property of a member of the employee’s immediate family; 3) appearance in court or an administrative tribunal in certain circumstances; or 4) other reasons allowed by a collective bargaining agreement, board policy, or administrative procedure.[4]
Employees who earn vacation leave could utilize such leave for fire-related absences.
A catastrophic leave program allows employees to donate eligible leave credits to another employee when that employee or a member of his or her family suffers a catastrophic illness or injury.[5] The Education Code sets parameters for catastrophic leave programs, but also allows districts to bargain different requirements with district’s employees’ exclusive representative. Catastrophic leave programs that follow the Education Code’s parameters likely would not cover leave for fire-related absences other than those resulting from fire-related illnesses or injuries.
Sick Leave and Family Medical Leave
Employees who are injured or suffer an illness as a result of the fires would be eligible for sick leave and extended illness leave (differential leave) to which they would be entitled for any illness or injury.
Similarly, an employee who is injured or suffers an illness as a result of the fires, or whose immediate family member is injured or taken ill, would be eligible for leave under the Family Medical Leave Act and California Family Rights Act as they would be for any illness or injury.
Employees who suffer the terrible tragedy of a loved one passing away because of the fires would be eligible for bereavement leave. By law, employees are entitled to leave of up to three days, or five days if out-of-state travel is required, upon the death of an immediate family member.[6] The law defines immediate family members but districts may use more expansive definitions. This leave is not deducted from an employee’s other leaves.
Employees may take leave to perform emergency duties as a volunteer firefighter or emergency rescue personnel.[7] Please contact our office for more information regarding this leave if it is relevant to your district.
Additional Paid or Unpaid Leave
A district governing board has the discretion to grant leaves of absence, paid or unpaid, in addition to leaves to which an employee is entitled by law, board policy, or a collective bargaining agreement.[8]
Recommendation and Additional Option
If a district wishes to offer fire-related leave to its employees beyond what is available to employees currently (such as personal necessity leave, or sick leave), we recommend that a district consider the following solution on a temporary, non-precedential basis:
Temporary increase to personal necessity leave from accumulated sick leave: Enter memoranda of understanding with the union(s) or pass a Board resolution for unrepresented employees to allow employees to utilize additional days of sick leave as personal necessity leave, such as allowing up to fifteen days of personal necessity leave rather than seven. We have outlined recommended parameters for such leave below.
In addition, districts whose employees have been impacted significantly by the fires could consider the following option on a temporary, non-precedential basis:
Temporary fire relief leave bank: Enter memoranda of understanding with the union(s) or pass a Board resolution for unrepresented employees to create a temporary leave bank similar to, but separate from, a catastrophic leave bank to allow employees to donate sick leave or vacation leave to other employees in need of leave time. Any such memorandum of understanding must be approved by the Board. A district could have three separate banks for academic, classified, and unrepresented employees, or one or two banks combining those groups with the agreement of the faculty and classified unions. We have outlined recommended parameters for such leave below.
In either scenario, the parameters for when and how such leave will be granted should be clearly outlined. Please be aware that either of these options, or any other changes to leaves, must be negotiated with the union(s). Please contact our office for assistance drafting a memorandum of understanding for either approach.
Temporary Increase to Personal Necessity Leave from an Employee’s Accumulated Sick Leave
For a temporary increase to personal necessity leave from an employee’s accumulated sick leave, recommended parameters include such issues as:
1. how many days of personal necessity leave may be taken;
2. how much notice an employee must give;
3. whether the leave is subject to approval by the supervisor;
4. during what time period may the leave be used (i.e., during October and November 2017 only);
5. clarify whether the days include or are in addition to personal necessity leave to which an employee is typically entitled (i.e., is it fifteen days total for the year, at least eight of which must be used in October and November 2017, or is it fifteen days plus the six or seven which an employee typically has);
6. clarify whether employees must disclose the reason for the leave; and
7. clarify if the leave is limited to use for fire-related absences only.
Temporary Fire Relief Leave Bank
For a temporary fire relief leave bank, parameters districts should consider include such issues as:
1. how many days of sick leave or vacation leave may be donated;
2. how much leave an employee must have remaining after donating time;
3. in what increments time may be donated;
4. who is eligible to donate leave (academic, classified, unrepresented, or all employees);
5. clarify that donations are irrevocable;
6. specify what will happen with any donated days that are not used;
7. whether donations may be made to a specific employee or must be made to a bank (we recommend a bank rather than donations to specific individuals);
8. how many days of leave may be utilized by any one employee;
9. when is an employee eligible to use of the leave;
10. what leaves must be exhausted before an employee is eligible for donated leave (for example, must the employee utilize all personal necessity leave and all sick leave up to a set number of days remaining?);
11. how eligibility for such leave will be determined, and by whom;
12. clarify whether employees must disclose the reason for the leave;
13. specify that the leave is limited to use for fire-related absences only; and
14. during what time period may the leave be used (i.e., during October and November 2017 only).
Again, please contact our office for assistance drafting a memorandum of understanding for either approach.
© 2017 School and College Legal Services of California
[1] Education Code § 87784.
[2] Education Code § 88207.
[3] Education Code § 87784.
[4] Education Code § 88207.
[5] Education Code § 87045.
[6] Education Code §§ 87788 (academic), 88194 (classified).
[7] Labor Code § 230.3; see also Labor Code §§ 1500-1507.
[8] Education Code §§ 87764 (academic), 88198 (classified).
Mia N. Robertshaw and Ellie R. Austin
Memo Number:
23-2017 (CC)
Wed, 10/25/2017 - 1:00pm to 4:00pm
HUMBOLDT COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION Student Discipline Including Special Education (K-12)
Thu, 10/26/2017 - 9:00am to 12:00pm
HUMBOLDT COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION Common Special Education Mistakes Leading to Litigation (K-12)
Fri, 10/27/2017 - 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Confidentiality and Record Retention/Destruction 101 (K-12/CCD)
Tue, 11/07/2017 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Wed, 11/15/2017 - 9:00am to 12:00pm
Thu, 11/16/2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Special Education Mental Health Issues (K-12)
Thu, 11/30/2017 - 9:00am to 12:00pm
Layoffs 101 (Classified & Certificated) (K-12/CCD)
Tue, 12/05/2017 - 1:00pm to 4:00pm
MENDOCINO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (K-12)
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Bullying, Cyberbullying & Student Free Speech (K-12/CCD)
Thu, 12/07/2017 - 9:00am to 12:00pm
Feminine Hygiene Products for Low Income Students (K-12)
Contact: Carl D. Corbin
FAQs on Website Accessibility (K-12)
Contact: Ellie R. Austin
Contact: Mia N. Robertshaw and Ellie R. Austin
Addendum to Legal Update 24-2017 Regarding Employees' Use of Personal Necessity Leave for Fire-Related Absences (K-12)
Contact: Carl D. Corbin, Mia N. Robertshaw, and Ellie R. Austin
Brown Act Procedures During a Public Emergency (K-12)
Contact: Frank Zotter, Jr.
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