2023 Benefits Guide Additional Benefits (continued) Holidays Catastrophic Leave Program 1. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is usually WestCarecreated a pilot program to provide a bank of observed on the preceding Friday. If a holiday falls on a hours for “catastrophic leave” for full-time employees. The Sunday, it is usually observed on the following Monday. hours available in this bank are for an employee when WestCaremay recognize the holiday on another day or he/she or a member of his/her family experiences a grant individual days depending upon whether catastrophe and the employee has used all of his/her WestCarewill be closing. Holiday observance will be accrued leave. announced in advance. Using the “Catastrophic Leave Request Form,” any 2. To be eligible for holiday pay, you must be regularly WestCareemployee may request hours from the bank with scheduled to work on the day of the holiday and must the following provisions: work your scheduled workdays both immediately preceding and immediately following the holiday, • The “catastrophe” meets program requirements. unless an absence on either day is approved, in • The requesting employee has completed at least 6 advance, by your supervisor. months of employment with WestCare. Sick Leave • All other paid leave accruals have been exhausted. WestCare’spolicy is to provide compensation during times • The requesting employee is not on suspension or an employee must be absent due to illness or injury that is administrative leave at the time of the request. unrelated to employment. This benefit is available to full- time employees and is available for use beginning the first • The requesting employee may receive no more than month after the date of hire. Hours are accrued based on 160 hours from the bank in any one calendar year. the schedule below. • Requests must be for a minimum of 8 hours. • Effective September 1, 2002, all full-time employees accrue sick time at a rate of 8 hours per month, beginning the first of the month after date of hire. The • Employee must submit the “Catastrophic Leave amount of sick time that may be accrued is capped at Request Form” to his or her immediate supervisor. 480 hours. Family Medical Leave Act and State • Employees may use accrued sick leave to attend doctor Leave Laws or dentist appointments provided WestCare was given advance notice of the appointment and the immediate In the event you become entitled to take a leave of supervisor approves the absence in advance. absence, your health benefits will continue for the duration • Employees may no accrue sick leave during either paid of your qualifying leave. During the leave, WestCare will or unpaid leaves of absence. continue to contribute to the cost of your coverage under the same terms and conditions as if you were actively at • “Banked” sick time is not paid upon termination. • For absences of 5 days or more, a release to return to work.WestCarewill also require you to pay the cost of work from a health care provider may be required before coverage on the same terms and conditions that you would an employee will be allowed to return to work. be required to pay if you were actively at work or to set up a reimbursement plan to pay back WestCare for covering • Sick leave must be reported as such on employees’ time your cost of benefits. sheets. 28 WestCare