Sick Bank Policies and Procedures
PURPOSE
The Sick Bank is designed to provide temporary assistance to members in the event
of unexpected illness, but is in no way obligated to any member. The Sick Bank is not to be considered a source of income, but a temporary source of insurance.
SICK LEAVE COMMITTEE
1. A joint committee of six (6) members, half named by the Board of School
Commissioners and half named by the Baltimore Teachers Union will administer the Sick Leave Bank and establish specific procedures for its utilization.
2. The Sick Bank Committee will review and forward to the Division of Human
Resources and Labor Relations its decision on all requests to draw on the
Sick Leave Bank. The Division shall honor all requests to draw on the Sick
Leave Bank. No grant of leave by the Committee shall be used to show that
an employee has been excessively absent or otherwise, to impose discipline.
3. The Sick Bank Committee will meet the Wednesday before each pay date
beginning with the first full pay in September through the last full pay in
June.
4. The Sick Bank Committee will generally meet on Thursday if the Wednesday
before the pay date is a holiday.
ELIGIBLE MEMBERS
1. All Baltimore City teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel who work four (4) hours or more daily are eligible to join the Sick Leave Bank. Participation is voluntary, but requires a minimum contribution of one (1) sick day as needed and determined by the Sick Leave Bank Committee.
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2. Eligible employees may join the Sick Leave Bank either within the first thirty
(30) days after employment or when a sick leave assessment is made. Any
person who has relinquished his or her membership in the Sick Leave Bank
may rejoin the Bank at such time and upon such conditions as set by the
Committee.
HOW TO FILE
1. All requests to draw upon the Sick Bank must be submitted on the approved
form and contain the physician’s legibly written statement confirming the
diagnosis/impression, cause of confinement and pertinent information
certifying the existence of a disability, first date of absence, and expected date
of return to duty.
2. Applications must be completely filled out. The application will not be
processed if all sections have not been completed. The words “not
applicable” should not be used in the “Previous Illness” section if no previous illnesses have occurred.
3. Upon request, an applicant may be required to sign a release of medical
information form, authorizing the Sick Leave Bank Committee to contact the
attending physician, if needed. Failure to submit the release of medical
information form within fifteen (15) days after the request is made will result
in a denial of the application. Detailed medical information and an
evaluation from the attending physician(s) and/or hospital will be required
before any additional applications will be approved.
4. Requests must be accompanied by a copy of the applicant’s most recent pay stub with the initial application.
5. Applications should be submitted no later than five (5) days after all accrued
sick leave, personal leave and vacation leave has been exhausted. In cases of medical emergencies, next of kin or someone known to the applicant may submit the application. All applications must be received the Tuesday before the scheduled Wednesday meetings. Failure to submit the application on time may result in non-payment. All requests are to be submitted to the Sick Bank Committee, c/o the Baltimore Teachers Union, 5800 Metro Drive, 2nd floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SICK BANK GRANTS
1. The applicant may be required to undergo a medical review by a physician of
the Committee’s choice at any time, and at the applicant’s expense, unless
otherwise covered by health insurance. However, the information received
from any such review or examination shall not be used to deny an employee
the opportunity to return to work. Further, the Committee may request a second opinion from a physician chosen by the applicant.
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2. Before days can be granted from the Sick Leave Bank on the first request for
any illness, the applicant must be out of pay status for five (5) consecutive
working days.
3. Sick Bank grants shall be in units as determined by the Committee and not
to exceed a total of ten (10) working days per application. Additional grants
of ten (10) working days may be granted at the discretion of the Committee
up to a maximum of thirty (30) working days per school year for the same
illness. Detailed medical information and an evaluation from the attending
physician(s) and/or hospital will be required before any additional
applications will be approved. If there is an occasion where an employee develops a secondary illness in the same school year, two additional grants of 10 days each MAY BE granted, with proper medical documentation as determined by the Committee.
4. Grants from the Sick Leave Bank may not be used for disabilities, which qualify the member for Worker’s Compensation benefits. Applicants who are disabled by the act of a third party (e.g. automobile accident) who receive money from other sources (e.g. insurance or recovery from third party) shall reimburse the Sick Bank for grants received. Sick Leave Bank grants shall constitute a lien against any recovery from a third party. The Sick Leave Bank shall have the right of subrogation for grants made for disability caused by a third party.
5. Grants from the bank may not be approved to cover intermittent absences.
6. All Sick Leave Bank contributions will remain in force and cannot be
returned even upon cancellation of membership into the Sick Leave Bank. In
no case will the granting of leave from the Bank cause an applicant to receive
more than his/her annual salary.
7. Sick Bank application grants will not automatically be carried over from one
fiscal year to another.
8. Falsification and/or distortion of information on the application will result in
a denial of Bank grants and possible disciplinary action by Baltimore City Public School System.
9. Applications received for review after the applicant has returned to work
will not be honored.
10. Sick Bank grants may only be used for the applicant’s own personal
illness. A colleague can not donate sick days to another employee who is out on sick leave.
11. The Sick Bank Committee is unable to guarantee payment. The dates of
payment and amount are determined by the BCPSS’ payroll schedule.
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12. One (1) day given to the Sick Bank is not counted as a day used toward the
negotiated Sick Leave Conversion.
13. The Sick Bank Committee has the right to change its Policies and Procedures
periodically in order to ensure the most effective operation of the Bank.
TERMINATING MEMBERSHIP
1. A member will lose the right to utilize the Sick Leave Bank if his or her
employment with the Baltimore City Public School System is terminated.
2. Employees may relinquish their membership in the Sick Leave Bank in
writing at any time by making their intention known in writing to the Sick
Leave Bank Committee.
Effect:
1. This statement of policy shall not alter or amend any rights due under the
negotiated Labor Agreement.
2. Approval to use leave from the Sick Leave Bank is discretionary, and denial may be based on any reason that is consistently applied and is not illegal or unconstitutional. Further, all decisions of the Committee as to benefits allowed or denied shall be final and binding on the employee unless the Committee deadlocks.
Distributed by:
The Baltimore Teachers Union—It is our pleasure to be of service to you.
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