GSEM Employee Handbook 2022-2023

• PTO hours in excess of one-half of the annual accrual will automatically be placed in the employee’s Extended Illness Bank (EIB) at the end of each calendar year up to the maximum allowable. If the EIB is at the maximum allowable, any remaining PTO hours will be forfeited • Upon resignation, all accrued, but unused PTO will be paid in accordance with this policy, provided an employee has been employed with the Council for a minimum of 180 days and has given the required notification (see page 36). If an employee leaves and has not been employed for 180 days or did not provide required notification, any accrued, but unused PTO is forfeited. • The Council reserves the right to change the use of and carry-over of PTO based upon business needs It is the responsibility of the employee to update email and voicemail anytime they are absent from work for more than one day. All employees are required to use their Microsoft Outlook Calendar for scheduling purposes. A physician’s release must be provided to Human Resources any time an employee is out of work for more than three days based on illness or injury. Parental Leave Parental Leave is available for full-time employees. If an employee has been with GSEM for: • Less than 2 years at the time of birth or adoption, they are eligible for 2 weeks of paid leave • More than 2 years at the time of birth or adoption, they are eligible for 4 weeks of paid leave Paternal leave is fully paid by GSEM, prior to an employee using PTO or EIB. Employees are provided a space for lactation breaks in the Wellness Room, located across from employee mailboxes. Extended Illness Bank The purpose of the Extended Illness Bank (EIB) is to provide protection and replace employee earnings in the event of an absence in excess of three consecutive days due to an employee’s own illness up to the time the employee is eligible for Long-Term Disability. The only exception to the employee’s own illness is when it is for purposes of adoption and/or parental leave, at which time an employee may be eligible to use up to a maximum of six weeks EIB. For absences of three consecutive days or less, employees must utilize PTO hours. Any employee missing more than three consecutive days of work may be asked to submit a physician’s note upon returning to work. If an employee returns to work and has a recurrence of the same illness, the employee may utilize additional EIB hours without satisfying a new three-day waiting period. Appropriate documentation from a health care provider verifying the need for the absence or series of absences must be provided for an employee to receive EIB. All employees hired for 37.5 hours per week will accrue EIB hours at the rate of 0.87 hours (52 minutes) per pay week. Other benefit-eligible employees will accrue on a pro-rated basis. EIB hours are accrued from the first day of employment and may be used once the hours are accrued. An employee may accrue a maximum of 487.5 EIB hours. EIB hours less than 487.5 may carry forward from year to year to maintain the 487.5maximum hours. Unused EIB hours are not paid out upon termination.

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