§ 114-422. Leave of absence without pay.

A department head, with notification to the commissioner of human resources, may grant a regular employee a leave of absence without pay for a period not to exceed one year. The granting of a leave of absence without pay shall be subject to the following conditions:

(1)

Leave without pay shall be granted only when such will not adversely affect the interest of the service of the city.

(2)

Failure of an employee to return to work at the expiration of approved leave shall be considered as absence without leave and shall be grounds for dismissal.

(3)

An employee granted leave of absence without pay and who wishes to return before the leave period has expired shall be required to give the department head of such employee written notice of such wish at least two weeks in advance of the date such employee wishes to return. Upon giving such notice, the employee shall be permitted to return to work on the date specified, unless the employee's position has been temporarily filled by another employee for the period of time originally specified in the leave of absence.

(4)

The officers and employees may continue group life and health insurance benefits while on leave of absence from the employ of the city, provided that such leave of absence is granted for one of the following reasons: military leave, maternity leave, sick leave or study leave of absence. The premium payments for such insurance shall be made by the employee.

(5)

Upon the return from a leave without pay, the employee shall occupy the salary grade which such employee occupied at the time of the commencement of the leave; provided, however, that any across-the-board increases granted during such employee's leave shall be granted to such employee.

(6)

Upon the return from a leave without pay, the employee shall be entitled to employment in the department and in the same or equivalent class in which such employee was employed at the time of commencement of the leave.

(7)

An employee who obtains employment elsewhere while on an authorized leave of absence shall forfeit such employee's position of employment with the city.

(8)

An unclassified employee who is granted a leave of absence without pay to work on a political campaign shall have the employee's position of employment abolished with the city if the leave of absence to work on the political campaign extends for more than three months.

(9)

All leaves of absence granted under this section, except leaves of absence to work on political campaigns, will be reviewed by the department head three months from the date such leave of absence begins to determine if it is in the best interest of the city for such leave to continue.

(Ord. No. 2007-22(06-O-2700), § 1, 3-27-07)