Department: All Departments

Subject: Absence Control Policy

Definition: Absence – An occurrence where the employee is unavailable for scheduled work and has not found a replacement. Consecutive scheduled days will count as one occurrence. (Please note that days covered by FMLA leave do not count against absences.)

Purpose: To ensure proper staffing for the care and wellbeing of our residents and to provide a uniform guideline for monitoring and controlling absenteeism for all employees by combining disciplinary action and alternatives to discipline to create a positive work environment.

Policy:    A. Disciplinary Action

1. Absenteeism will be monitored for the most recent 12 month period on a rolling basis where one month is dropped for each new month.
2. If any employee calls in on a scheduled Saturday, Sunday, or Holiday, they will be required to make up those days missed as directed by their supervisor unless they replace themselves.
3. Upon the third occurrence of absence in the most recent 12 month period, a consultation will occur between the employee and his/her supervisor. The employee and supervisor will discuss the problems caused by their absenteeism and set goals to reduce future absenteeism. A documented verbal warning will be given.
4. Upon the fourth occurrence of absence in the most recent 12 month period a written warning will be issued. Goals from previous disciplinary action should be reviewed at this time.
5. Upon the fifth occurrence of absence in the most recent 12 month period, a final written warning will be issued. Goals from prior disciplinary actions are reviewed and/or updated. Employee may be assigned an additional mandatory weekend shift.
6. The sixth occurrence of absence in the most recent 12 month period will result in further disciplinary action up to and including termination.
7. Because of the rolling 12 month monitoring, in some situations a disciplinary action may be repeated.

B. Alternatives to disciplinary action

1. If employees who must be replaced due to unplanned absence find their own replacement AND report it to their supervisor two hours before the start of the shift, the absence will not be counted.

2. Any hours for which employees receive sick pay will be counted as an occurrence of absence if a replacement is not found AND they have not called in at least 2 hours prior to their shift.

This policy supersedes any and all other Absence Control Policies.