[Added 11-21-1994]
For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
CHILD
A biological, adopted, or foster child, a stepchild, a legal ward, or a child of a person standing in loco parentis, who is under 18 years of age or 18 years of age or older and incapable of self care because of a mental or physical disability. For the purpose of § 73-50, children attending school shall include a child attending preschool through undergraduate education up to age 22.
[Amended 3-5-2018]
PARENT
The biological parent of an employee or an individual who stood in loco parentis to an employee when the employee was a child.
SCHOOL-RELATED ACTIVITIES
Parent/teacher conferences, classroom presentations, and classroom activities (e.g., field trips) requiring additional adult/parent supervision.
[Amended 3-5-2018]
SPOUSE
Husband or wife, as the case may be.
A. 
The parent shift shall consist of working hours between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., whenever possible, with provisions for time off whenever a parent needs it, subject to the provisions of this section.
B. 
Positions which qualify to be filled under a parent shift program shall be determined by work necessity so as not to cause an undue hardship to the City. The final decision to grant a parent shift shall rest with the department head based upon maintaining the efficiency of the department for the public good.
C. 
Parent shift workers shall be paid their hourly rate for the respective position titles. They may be granted all school holidays and school vacation days off, if desired. However, employees working fewer than 20 hours a week shall not be eligible for the parent shift program.
A department head may, whenever possible, hire two part-time employees to fill one full-time position, with the combined hours not to exceed the total hours of the full-time position. When the two positions are created, only one can be greater than 15 hours per week. The part-time working hours must be approved by the department head so as not to interfere with the work to be performed in the department.
A. 
In accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 149, § 105D, an employee who has completed the initial benefit probationary period of six months and is employed on a regular basis for 20 hours or more per week may request an unpaid parental leave, not to exceed 16 weeks, following the birth of a baby, unless otherwise provided for by a collective bargaining agreement or this chapter, for the purpose of giving birth, care of a newborn, placement for foster care, or the adoption of a child under the age of 18, or the adoption of or placement for foster care of a child 18 or over if the child is mentally or physically disabled. The employee shall give at least a two-week written notice, except in the case of an emergency, to his department head of the anticipated date of departure and intention to return.
B. 
If an employee is disabled due to pregnancy or childbirth, she may use sick leave in accordance with the prescribed sick leave policy. The employee shall submit a physician's statement which indicates the expected return to work date should the illness exceed the parental leave or as specified in the respective collective bargaining agreement.
C. 
Parental leave shall neither affect the employee's right to receive any benefits which he/she is eligible for at the commencement of the leave nor affect any other rights and benefits to which he/she may be entitled to under a collective bargaining agreement.
A. 
All employees working 20 hours or more per week who are parents and/or legal guardians of school-age children (preschool through high school) shall be allowed to use four hours per school year for school-related activities.
B. 
The words "school-related activities" shall not cover volunteerism in the schools.
C. 
It shall be the responsibility of the employee to make appropriate arrangements with his/her department head for each such absence to ensure adequate coverage.