Archive: January 2001

Short Term Leave - Which one do I take?
By Steve Kaplan, UniServe Field Organizer

The contract includes a substantial number of short-term leaves. These include: Sick Leave 10.3; Personal Necessity 10.4; Paternity and Adoption 10.5; Personal Business Absence 10.13; Absence on District business 10.14; Bereavement 10.16; Family and Medical Care 10.20; Family School Partnership 10.21; and Jury Duty 10.22.

When a need arises requiring that you miss one or more days of school, how do you decide which leave to take? First of all, read the contract to determine leaves you are eligible to take based on why you need to be out. In many cases you are eligible for more than one. Which do you take?

Consulting the contract and asking the following questions, will enable you to make the best choice in selecting a short term leave.

• What leaves am I eligible to take?
• Which are paid, which are unpaid? - Use paid leaves first.
• Is there a paid leave that is not charged to sick leave?
  - Bereavement, Paternity and Adoption, Jury Duty
• Among the leaves charged to sick leave, which is the most restricted?
  - Always use a more restricted leave first. For example, use Personal Necessity Leave (only usable in designated circumstances) before using Personal Business Absence (usable on an almost unlimited basis).
• What unpaid leaves am I eligible to take?
• Do any of these continue my medical benefits?
  - Family Care leave
  - Use these before unpaid leaves that end your benefits.

Remember, your Association Representative is there to help.