[Ord. No. 7328 §1, 8-28-2006; Ord. No. 7599 §1, 6-10-2009]
A. 
In cases of occupational injury or illness, payments will be made in accordance with the provisions of the State Workers' Compensation law, Section 287.010, RSMo., which says; except that, each occupational injury or illness shall be compensated for from the first (1st) day. In addition to such payments, a supplemental amount, equal to the difference between the employee's basic weekly wage and his weekly compensation allowance shall be paid weekly to such employee. Such supplementary payments shall continue for a period which shall continue for a period of twelve (12) months, unless:
1. 
The employee returns to work, whether or not in a job classification of like status and pay whether or not in the employ of the City; or
2. 
The employee dies; or
3. 
The employee receives a compensation award according to Workers' Compensation regulations or accepts a compromise settlement of his claim; or
4. 
The employee refuses to return to offered employment after being determined by a physician of the personnel officer's choice to be able to perform the duties of the assigned job without unreasonable risk or physical harm.
[Ord. No. 7328 §1, 8-28-2006]
Every regular full-time employee in the classified service of the City shall, thirty (30) days after having commenced employment with the City, be eligible to receive sickness and disability benefits on account of physical incapacity to work by reason of sickness or accident, or by reason of the necessity to receive any type of medical examination, other than accidental injury or sickness arising out of and in the course of employment for the City.
[Ord. No. 7328 §1, 8-28-2006]
A. 
The following table of eligibility for sickness and disability benefits is based on continuous employment:
Continuous service of employee eligible for sickness and disability benefits at full pay:
30 days, but less than 3 years
5 days per year
3 years, but less than 5 years
10 days per year
5 years, but less than 10 years
15 days per year
10 years and over
20 days per year
B. 
Sick leave time shall be accumulated up to a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) days, including sick leave due in the then current year of service.
C. 
Any employee entitled to sick leave under this Section, who loses work as a result of sickness, shall be paid his/her regular salary during the time of such sickness, less the amount which the employee receives as a result of any payment made to the employee under any insurance policy paid for by the City covering such sickness.
D. 
Any employee who has accumulated sick leave benefits may donate one (1) to five (5) days of sick leave benefits on a voluntary basis to a catastrophic leave pool provided that it is done in writing to the Mayor designating the number of days that are being donated, and an acknowledgment that it is being done voluntarily and with the knowledge that the employee's accumulated sick leave benefits will be immediately reduced by the number of days donated.
E. 
At any time a physician's certificate may be required to verify the employee's sickness or injury. Subsequent to an absence of any duration due to sickness or injury, a physician's certificate may be required to verify the employee's ability to return to work prior to assumption of duties by that employee. In addition, any employee may be required to complete any physical agility or other testing program before returning to work.
F. 
It is understood that an employee utilizing sick leave benefits pursuant to this policy agrees that he/she will not accept or perform any work for any other employer or engage in any self-employment work activity during his/her leave of absence; if an employee does so, he/she acknowledges that in such circumstances his/her conduct will be deemed to be a violation of the terms of the leave of absence and that employment with the City may be subject to termination.
G. 
Sick leave may not be used during any disciplinary suspension.
H. 
Nothing contained in this sick leave policy is to be construed as guaranteeing employment status throughout the availability or use of sick leave benefits or upon conclusion of any period of such leave. An employee who is medically unavailable for work for any extended duration may be separated from employment, consistent with applicable Federal and State laws, regardless of whether the employee has exhausted all earned, unused sick leave.
I. 
Earned, unused sick leave is not payable upon separation of employment.
[Ord. No. 7328 §1, 8-28-2006]
Full pay and partial pay shall be based on the number of hours per week constituting the employee's normal workweek, not including overtime, and shall be computed at the employee's basic rate of pay in effect at the time the disability began (first (1st) day of absence). The benefits, including any benefits derived under a City-sponsored insurance program, shall at no time exceed the pay which the employee would receive, based on his/her rate of pay and general schedule of hours per week constituting a full week's work, at the time the disability began.
[Ord. No. 7328 §1, 8-28-2006]
Any claim for disability benefits shall be made by notification on the first (1st) day of absence by the employee, or his/her designated representative, to the employee's immediate supervisor; and the employee shall not be entitled to benefits for time previous to such notice unless delay shall be shown to have been unavoidable and satisfactory evidence of disability is furnished.
[Ord. No. 7328 §1, 8-28-2006]
The City may request a doctor's certification of the disability at any time it is deemed desirable. In any case in which the absence extends beyond the third (3rd) working day, such certification shall be furnished by the employee or his/her agent. In unusual cases, the Personnel Officer may request a physician of the City's choice to examine an employee on sickness disability.
[Ord. No. 7328 §1, 8-28-2006]
The Personnel Officer may request supplemental reports from physicians as may be deemed necessary to properly follow the progress of extended disability cases. A disabled employee shall not be entitled to benefits if he/she fails to submit satisfactory evidence of disability or fails upon request to submit to examination by a physician of the City's choice.
[Ord. No. 7328 §1, 8-28-2006]
A disabled employee wishing to leave his/her employment with the City for an extended period shall obtain from the Personnel Officer written approval of absence for a specified time and shall furnish satisfactory proof of disability while absent; otherwise, no benefits will be paid for such period of absence.
[Ord. No. 7328 §1, 8-28-2006]
Payment for sickness disability shall be made in conformance with the method of payment of regular wages and salaries paid by the City and on order of the department head and approved by the Personnel Officer.
[Ord. No. 7328 §1, 8-28-2006]
The duration of sick leave benefit payments shall not exceed that specified for the continuous service which the employee had attained as of the time the sickness or disability began (first (1st) day of absence). However, a full-time employee who has exhausted all accrued sick leave benefits and is faced with a catastrophic illness, injury or condition, as verified by competent medical records and documents, may be granted an additional sixty (60) days of sick leave benefits from a catastrophic leave pool provided that the total number of sick leave days for the employee does not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days. The decision to grant additional sick leave benefits from the catastrophic leave pool shall be within the sole discretion of the Mayor based upon competent medical records and documents submitted by doctors of medicine or certified mental health professionals.
[Ord. No. 7328 §1, 8-28-2006]
All questions regarding continuous service, rates of pay, eligibility to benefits and other matters shall be referred to the Personnel Officer who shall investigate and give interpretations. In disputed cases the decision of the Personnel Commission shall be final.
[Ord. No. 7328 §1, 8-28-2006]
Whenever a City employee who has become disabled in the line of duty is covered by any type of life insurance, health and accident insurance, or any other type of insurance, the premiums for which are paid by the City, becomes totally disabled and is so classified by Social Security or by the terms of any insurance contract covering benefits provided by the City, and the premiums for such insurance are not waived by the insurance carrier as a result of such disability, the City shall maintain such insurance coverage until such time as the disability waiver of premiums shall take effect or until such time as the employee by reason of such disability shall become eligible for Medicare or other Federal or State funded programs of health insurance.