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General Order B -16 Page 1 of 4 Sick Leave TEMPLE TERRACE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER EFFECTIVE DATE 06/28/2023 FILE INDEX NO. B-16 SUBJECT: SICK LEAVE INDEX AS: SAME AS ABOVE RESCINDS: REVISES: B-16 DATE REVISED: DISTRIBUTION : ALL MEMBERS I. PURPOSE: To provide guidelines for the management and utilization of sick leave. II. SCOPE: All members III. DISCUSSION: Regular and consistent attendance is a fundamental requirement for all positions within the department. Absences in any form directly impact the department’s operational efficiency. Sick leave is provided as a conditional benefit, intended solely for legitimate instances of illness or injury, and it is expected that employees abstain from activities that would unnece ssarily prolong their need for sick leave. Instances of work -related injuries or illnesses fall under the purview of Florida State Statutes governing worker’s compensation. Abusing sick leave is a serious matter that may result in the denial of paid sick leave and disciplinary action, including pot ential termination of employment. Indicators of sick leave abuse manifest in various ways , including but not limited to : 1. Employees claiming sick leave while engaging in physical activities like sports, travel, shopping, yard work, or taking on additional employment, indicating a lack of genuine illness. 2. Establishing a predictable pattern of sick leave usage, such as aligning it with scheduled days off, extending weekends, connecting sick leave to vacations or holidays, consistently using sick leave soon af ter it is earned, maintaining a consistently low or zero sick leave balance, or exhibiting excessive unscheduled sick leave usage. IV. DEFINITIONS: A. Excessive Sick Leave – More than three (3) unscheduled sick leaves taken within a twelve (12) month period. General Order B -16 Page 2 of 4 Sick Leave B. Habitual A List – Placement on the Habitual A List occurs when an employee calls out sick more than three (3) times within a twelve (12) month period, excluding scheduled sick leave for injury or illness. The twelve (12) month period is measured from the f irst sick leave day taken. An employee will be removed from the Habitual A List if no additional sick leave is taken within the twelve (12) month period starting from the initial sick leave day. C. Habitual B List – Placement on the Habitual B List happens wh en an employee on the Habitual A List calls out sick more than two (2) times within a six (6) month period. The six (6) month period is measured from the date the employee was placed on the Habitual A List. An employee will be removed from the Habitual B L ist if no further sick leave is taken during that specific six - month period while on the Habitual B List. D. Immediate Family – Refers to the employee’s spouse, child, parent, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchil dren, current stepparent, current stepchild, current stepbrother, current stepsister, father -in-law, mother -in-law, son -in-law, daughter -in-law, brother -in-law, and sister -in- law. E. Non-Illness Related Life Crisis (FOP Labor Members) – For the purposes of this policy, a “ life crisis” is an umbrella term describing a person’s psychological response to major life changes or events. The American Psychological Association defines it as “a time of distress and major adjustment associated with a significant life experience, like a divorce or the death of a family member. ” F. Scheduled Sick Leave – Pre-approved leave for documented long or short -term illness or injury, including medical, dental, or optical examinations. 1. Doctor’s documentation of illness before the employee’s absence is considered scheduled sick leave. The documentation doesn’t need to be presented on the same day but must be given to the supervisor on the employee’s first day back at work. a) If a doctor’s note is obtained during the employee’s absence, any subsequent days will be considered sched uled sick leave, while the first day will remain unscheduled. G. Unscheduled Sick Leave – Leave used for illness that doesn’t qualify under the Family Medical Leave Act, scheduled sick leave, or work -related injuries lasting two or fewer workdays . 1. If more th an two (2) consecutive unscheduled sick leave days are taken, a doctor’s documentation confirming the employee’s ability to return to work is required. V. PROCEDURE: A. Sick Leave Notification and Usage: 1. FOP Labor Mem bers - In addition to the notification requi rements contained within Article 15 of the current contract between the Fraternal Order of Police Florida State Lodge Inc. and the City of Temple Terrace, and in keeping with Article 3 Section I of the aforementioned contract , the following will apply: a) Unless the employee’s immediate supervisor is currently on -duty, in which case he/she may contact them directly, the employee shall be required to speak directly with the on - duty patrol supervisor when calling out s ick. 1) In order to accomplish this, e mployees may: (a) call the on -duty supervisor directly ; (b) contact communications and ask to be transferred to the on -duty supervisor ; (c) contact communications and request that the on -duty supervisor contact them regarding his