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Leave of Absence

When an employee has been absent or anticipates being absent more than five consecutive work days, Alief ISD requires an application for a district medical leave of absence.

Employee Leave Steps:

  1. Employees must provide 30 days advance notice of the need to take FMLA leave when the need is foreseeable.  When 30 days notice is not possible, the employee must provide a notice as soon as practicable and must comply with the Alief ISD's normal call-in procedures.

  2. An employee shall obtain leave forms from the Alief ISD website, campus secretary or designee.

  3. The employee completes and signs an Employee Request for Leave Application and forwards it to the supervisor for signature along with an attached doctor note denoting illness or surgery and estimated time away from work. 

  4. If additional medical certificate is requested, the employee needs the attending physician to complete and sign a medical certification form and submits it to the Leaves Specialist.  (Forms not signed by the physician will be returned to the employee.)  Click on the link below for the appropriate medical certification form:

*Leaves are processed as quickly as possible.  However, please note that we cannot process a leave without all required documents.* 

Employee Return from Leave Steps:

  • The employee obtains a medical release and submits it to the Risk Management Specialist ext. 29153 (Risk Management) 2 days before returning to work. Employees will not be allowed to return to work without a release from the attending physician. All medical releases with restrictions/limitations must be reviewed and approved by the Risk Management before allowing the employee to return to work.

  • For questions regarding employee leaves, you may email us  or fax to (832) 678-2446.

Types of Leave 

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA - leave is protected)

FMLA is for employees employed by the District for 12 months, and the employee has worked 1250 hours in the 12 months immediately preceding the need for leave.  If this leave is for maternity, illness of a member of the immediate family (mother, father, spouse, and children) or illness of self.  The term parent does NOT include a parent “in-law”.  The term son or daughter does include individuals 18 years or over, if they are “incapable of self-care” because of mental or physical disability that limits one or more of the “major life activities”.

Maximum duration: 12 work weeks

Intermittent or Reduced Schedule Leave

The District shall not permit use of intermittent or reduced schedule FMLA leave for the care of a newborn child or for the adoption or placement of a child with the employee.  [See DECA(LEGAL) for use of intermittent or reduced schedule leave due to a medical necessity.] 

Temporary Disability Leave (TDL - leave is not protected)

This leave is only for full-time employees who have exhausted FMLA or have been with the District less than one year. This leave is for the illness of the employee only.

Maximum duration: 180 calendar days

*Important employee concerns* 

Alief ISD does not offer paid leave.  An employee is paid for any accrued state and local days.  For instance, if an employee has 20 accrued days and is out for 24 days, then “sick leave” days will be taken from the accrued state and local leave days; hence, he/she will not be paid for 4 days.  Contact the Leaves Specialist with any questions regarding leave days and/or salary information when taking a medical leave of absence.  Employees are responsible for their health insurance while out on leave and will be invoiced if you're no longer receiving a paycheck.

*In order to earn a year of membership service credit with TRS, you must work in a TRS-eligible position or receive paid leave from TRS-eligible position at least 90 days during the school year.  For more information call TRS at 1-800-223-8778. 

Julian

Julian Alexander,  Risk Management Specialist

Phone: (281) 498-8110 ext. 29153
Fax:  (832) 678-2446
Email Julian Alexander