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Grand Rapids Community College
Policy Section 6.0 Personnel
Subsection 6.14 Family and Medical Leave
6.14
Family and Medical Leave
Pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, employees who have worked for the College for
at least twelve (12) months an at least 1,250 hours during the prior twelve (12) months preceding the
start of the leave, may take up to (12) weeks of unpaid leave for the following reasons:
1. Birth and/or care of child of the employee;
2. Placement of a child into the employee’s family by adoption or by a foster care arrangement;
3. In order to care for the employee’s spouse, child or parent who has a serious health condition
and
4. A serious health condition which renders the employee unable to perform the functions of the
employee’s position.
FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PROCEDURE
There are two types of unpaid leave available under the Act: Family and Medical. In the case of unpaid
leave for the birth or placement of a child, (family leave) intermittent leave or working a reduced
number of hours is not permitted unless both the employee and the College agree. If both spouses are
employed by the College the combined leave shall not exceed twelve (12) weeks for family leaves or to
care for a parent with a serious health condition.
In the case of unpaid leave for serious health conditions, (medical leave) the leave may be taken
intermittently or on a reduced hours basis only if such leave is medically necessary. If intermittent or
reduced hours leave is required, the College may in its sole discretion temporarily transfer the employee
to another job with equivalent pay and benefits that better accommodates that type of leave. Unpaid
leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition is available only for an employee’s
spouse, child or parent.
During such leaves of absence, the college will continue to pay the portion of the health insurance
premiums and the employee must continue to pay his/her share of the premium. Failure of the
employee to pay his/her share of the health insurance premium may result in loss of coverage. If the
employee does not return to work after the expiration of the leave, the employee will be required to
reimburse the college for payment of health premiums during the family leave, unless the employee
does not return to work because of the presence of a serious health condition which prevents the
employee from performing his/her job or circumstances beyond the control of the employee. ‘
During such leaves, the employee shall not accrue employment benefits, such as vacation pay, sick pay,
pension etc. Employment benefits accrued by the employee up to the day on which the leave of absence
begins will not be lost.
Employees are required to use their available vacation time during the twelve (12) week family leave,
and available sick days shall be used when leave is taken because of serious health conditions. NOTE:
that portion of the family leave absence which is vacation time and/or sick days will be with pay
according to the College’s policies regarding vacation time and sick days.