Common use of Taking sick leave Clause in Contracts

Taking sick leave. Sick leave may be taken in increments of less than one full workday. Employees may not take sick leave before it is earned. Sick leave may be used for illness, disability (including disability due to pregnancy) or injury of the employee or their spouse or dependent child, or appointments with Doctors, Dentists, or other Professional Medical Practitioners. For periods of absence of five (5) consecutive workdays or less, when the District can substantiate a pattern of abuse of sick leave, the District may, in its discretion, require evidence to substantiate that such leave days were used for the purposes herein set forth. For periods of absence for more than five (5) consecutive workdays, the employee shall provide written verification of the reasons for such absence upon the employees' return to work. The employee shall furnish written verification by persons licensed under the "Illinois Medical Practices Act" or under similar laws of Illinois or of other states or countries or by an individual authorized by a recognized religious denomination to treat by prayer or spiritual means. Such verification shall show the expected duration of the sick leave. Such verification shall be submitted to the Medical Department immediately upon the lapse of more than five (5) consecutive workdays taken as sick leave and shall be resubmitted no less than every forty-five (45) days thereafter. The District may require, in its discretion that an employee take a physical examination at any time during the period when an employee is on sick leave or in connection with an employee's request to return to work after an absence of five (5) or more consecutive working days. Failure of an employee to provide such verification or to submit to such a physical examination shall on due notice cause termination of such leave.