Common use of Using Earned Time Clause in Contracts

Using Earned Time. A. The parties recognize that the methods of accommodating employee requests for scheduled earned time may vary depending upon the policy of the various departments. B. Earned Time will be used for all unpaid absences from work unless otherwise prohibited by law. This language does not affect the related past practices of the parties including, but not limited to, Union activities, low census days, jury duty and bereavement leave, and duty as a court witness on behalf of the Hospital. C. Occasionally, because of service closure for legal holidays, changes in workload, reduced staffing needs for holiday periods or other economic circumstances, an employee may be required to take time off from his/her regular schedule. 1. If the office or service is closed because of a Hospital-recognized legal holiday (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) the employee will be required to use accrued Earned Time to be paid for the absence. If no accrued time is available the holiday must be taken as non-paid time off. 2. Employees will be permitted the right to exercise bargaining unit seniority within a work group for preference for ET time of five (5) days or more for 1.0 and 0.9, and four (4) days or more for 0.8 and 0.7, and three (3) days or more for 0.6 and below and on legal holidays provided they submit such written requests prior to February 15th of each year except for Nursing Service which will determine their own time frame. Up to two (2) times per year bargaining unit employees will not be expected to cover their weekend or on-call shifts when taking blocks of ET of five days or more (prorated by FTE) as long as staffing/scheduling permits. However, additional weekends may be allowed based on the ability of individual departments/units to accommodate them. During each selection period, staff will have the opportunity to select blocks of ET beginning with the most senior person based on hospital seniority. Such selection will apply to all time from March 15 of one year to March 15 of the next year. The employee will be permitted the right to request on first, second, and third preference (e.g., if the employee's first choice is unavailable, then the second choice would be considered, etc.). The Hospital will respond in writing by February 28th of each year. Employees will receive their regularly scheduled days off, and regularly scheduled weekend off and not be required to fill their on-call shifts during the week in which their vacation block is taken. Employees requesting ET time other than the above will be awarded such time on a first come, first serve basis, scheduling permitted. Once approved a senior employee may not "bump" another employee from her/his approved time off. 3. Between August 1st and September 15th of each year, bargaining unit employees on each nursing unit shall vote by a secret ballot election on guidelines for float order, administration of scheduled earned time, holidays, and schedule changes. Guidelines shall be adopted by a simple majority vote of all bargaining unit employees on that unit. All unit guidelines must be consistent with contract language and will not supersede contract language. Any abstention ballots received shall not be counted in determining the total number of bargaining unit employees for purposes of a simple majority. In the event a simple majority is not accomplished, despite a good faith effort, the existing practice and/or guidelines shall remain in effect. Unit guidelines will be forwarded to Human Resources by November 1st, which will in turn forward copies to the Union for review. D. Employees are strongly encouraged to take at least fifteen (15) scheduled Earned Time days off per anniversary year. If the Earned Time maximum is reached, no additional time will accrue. E. 1. If an employee is unable to report for scheduled work, she/he shall notify the Hospital as soon as possible, but no later than: a. At least one (1) hour prior to the employee's commencement of scheduled work on the Day shift, except for nursing service which will be ninety (90) minutes. b. At least three (3) hours prior to the employee's commencement of scheduled work on the PM shift. c. At least four (4) hours prior to the employee's commencement of scheduled work on the Night shift. Failure to provide proper notice may result in the denial of Earned Time payment for that unscheduled absence. Repeated failure to so notify the department/unit may result in disciplinary action.