ARTICLE 19: LEAVES OF ABSENCE
MILITARY LEAVES OF ABSENCE:
An employee who voluntarily or involuntarily enters into the Armed Forces is entitled to a leave of absence
for the anticipated length of enlistment. The employee upon discharge is entitled to reinstatement to his or
her previous position or a position of like status. Employees called to serve in the National Guard or Armed
Forces Reserve are entitled to seventeen (+7) days of paid leave of absence per Federal fiscal year
(October 1 through September 30"). The employee will be required to submit verification of leave orders
as evidence of the amount of pay received. Reservists called into active duty will be eligible for benefits in
accordance to the Mayoral Memo dated October 5, 2001. A decision was made to treat all reservists
equally, and any reservist called into active duty will be eligible for the following benefits:
A. First Month’s Wages: The City will pay 100 % of the employee's first month’s salary to ensure
that family members not endure any financial hardship during this initial phase.
B. Compensation Guidelines: The City will pay the difference of whatever military compensation is
paid to each reservist, provided it does not exceed 100% of one’s monthly employment
compensation, during all succeeding months up to five years that the employee may be on active
duty.
C. Health_& Dental Insurance Premiums: The City and the employee will continue to pay their
respective share of health and dental insurance premiums associated with their respective plans
up to five years, if requested.
D. Seniority Rights: The employee will maintain seniority rights up to a maximum of five years.
E. NH Retirement System: The City and the employee will continue to pay their respective share to
the employee's retirement plan.
F. Accrual of Vacation Leave: Employees may accrue vacation leave for the first six months of
active duty.
G. Reporting Back to Work/Discharges: Employees will be required to report back to work in
accordance with USERRA: Section 4312 (e}. Anyone discharged under the provisions of USERRA:
Section 4304 will be disqualified from receiving all the above stated benefits.
H. Re-Employment Benefits: Employees will be entitled to re-employment benefits in accordance
with the provisions of USERRA: Section 4312 and 4313.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE (NON-FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE REASONS):
A. Requests for Paid or Unpaid Leaves: With prior approval and at the sole discretion of the Chief
of Police, an employee will submit to the Chief of Police through the chain of command a wrilten
request for a leave of absence for personal illness prior to the initial date of leave indicating the
reason for the leave of absence and the duration of the leave. An employee may request to use
available vacation and/or personal time.
B. Benefits: Employees on an unpaid leave of absence will not accrue benefit leave (vacation/sick).
C. Leave Periods: Employees with one (1) or more years of continuous service may be granted a
leave up to one year. An employee with less than one year may be granted a leave up to thirty
{30) days.
