Sick leave is a form of insurance provided to ensure continuation of salary payments in the event of your absence due to illness.

As a full-time exempt personnel you receive 4 weeks (20 working days) of annual paid sick leave.  As a new administrator you can begin accruing sick leave, after three months of continuous employment, at the rate of 1.66 days per month.  Unused sick leave is not cumulative and may not be used as supplemental vacation leave.  After the first year, unused sick leave exceeding 3 weeks annually may be accumulated at a rate of no more than 5 working days annually (i.e. someone who has used no sick leave in a given year will be eligible for 5 weeks the second through the fifth year, 6 weeks the sixth through the tenth year, 7 weeks through the eleventh through the fifteenth year and 8 weeks for the sixteenth through the twentieth year. 

Upon resignation or retirement after 20 years of service, unused accumulated sick leave may be cashed in.  No such provision exists for any accumulated sick leave prior to 20 years of service.  Any use of sick leave is subject to medical proof of justification for sick leave.  Use of sick leave for purposes other than medical disability is an offense subject to disciplinary action including termination.

As a full-time non-exempt employee you accrue sick leave at the rate of one (1) day per month.  If your effective date of hire is after the 15th day of the month you will not start accruing sick time until the following month.  Unused sick leave may be carried forward from year-to-year.  Maximum accrual of unused sick leave is sixty (60) working days.  If you are carrying over sixty (60) days you will receive twelve (12) days at the beginning of the year.  If you do not use any or all of the twelve days, you will be allowed to carry over no more than sixty for the following year.

If you are unable to report to work due to illness you must notify your immediate supervisor or department head at the earliest practicable time.  An estimate of how long you expect to be absent should also be provided.  Your immediate supervisor or department head may request a certification of illness or disability from your physician after the third consecutive work day of absence, and upon return to work.        

The College, at its discretion, will grant sick leave in advance of its being earned if such request is submitted to the Office of Human Resources.  It is understood that should your employment with the College terminate, sick leave taken in excess of that earned will be deducted from your final pay check. 

If you are out sick more than seven days you are required to apply for New York State Disability Benefits.  Any and all accrued time will be counted towards the sick leave.

If you are absent and on New York State Disability, you may be replaced at any time if the work of the department requires that your position be filled.  The replacement will be temporary for a period not to exceed six (6) months.  At the end of the sixth month period, if you have not returned to work, a permanent replacement will be sought.