(a) Family and medical leave. Employees who are absent from work due to personal illness, the illness or injury of a covered military service member, or
the illness of a minor child, parent or spouse for more than three consecutive days, or three days over a three-month period,
may be eligible for family and medical leave. To initiate protections afforded by family and medical leave, employees are
required to provide satisfactory documentation of a serious health condition by submitting medical certification from the
treating health care provider (FMLA) and the family and medical leave request form. Sick leave shall be used concurrently
with family and medical leave. Other forms of paid leave (vacation, holiday credit, personal day) shall be used concurrently
as well. For example, the employee takes family and medical leave due to the chronic illness of a parent. If paid leave accruals
are available, the employee would be required to exhaust all sick leave, vacation leave, holiday credit and personal day before
moving to a without pay status. Under no circumstances shall an employee be placed in a leave of absence without pay status
(LWOP) while paid time is available. See family and medical leave policy found at sections 82-601 to 82-608 for more details.
(b) Leave of absence. If approved for leave of absence, sick leave may be used if the employee is out due to his or a qualifying family member's
illness. Sick leave shall run concurrently with leave of absence in this case. A leave of absence up to 90 continuous days
may be granted at the discretion of the elected official/department head. See the leave of absence and return to work policy
found at section 82-471 to 82-478 for more information.
(c) Long term disability. The county provides long-term disability coverage for regular, full-time employees who are absent from work for more than
six months. Employees who have long term illnesses should contact the benefits section of the human resources/civil service
department for specific details.
(d) Termination. Employees who are absent from work for any reason for more than six months in a 12-month period shall be terminated unless
exceptions have been granted by commissioners court or the sheriff's department civil service commission.
