A staff member may accompany a family member to an appointment pertaining to health. For example: a minor child, a family member with a serious medical condition, or other family members who are unable to attend on their own.

An appointment pertaining to health could be: routine doctor appointments, visit to an urgent or emergency care facility, physicals, dentist appointments, optometry exams, therapy, mental health appointments, or physician prescribed appointments.

Salary Continuation Guidelines for Appointments Pertaining to Health for Family Members

1. Staff members must meet their employment obligation of regular and reasonable attendance.
    
2. Salary continuation/sick time is primarily intended to protect the income of staff members while disabled.
    
3. Staff members should consider if the family member can be taken to appointment by other family members, friends, neighbors, etc.
    
4. Staff members must make a reasonable effort to schedule appointments to not disrupt their departments operations.
   • Staff members should consider scheduling appointments before or after the work day, if available. If scheduled during the workday, the staff member shall discuss with their supervisor how to handle the remainder of their work day (i.e. job responsibilities, work schedule).
      
5. Staff members are encouraged to schedule routine appointments at an office location that will minimize travel time (near campus or home).
    
6. Staff members are encouraged to schedule non-emergency appointments not in close proximity to other absences.
    
7. Staff members are responsible to follow the established work rules or protocol in their department for any absences during work time (i.e. what number and who to call, notification of other office staff, etc.).
    
8. Staff members shall notify his or her supervisor of an absence in advance as soon as possible and shall state the expected duration thereof when possible.
    
9. Supervisors should not request a specific diagnosis but staff members must provide information regarding the need for their absence. For example: dentist appointment, doctor appointment, eye appointment, therapy, medical procedure, etc.
    
10. If requested by the University, acceptable proof shall be furnished regarding the need for the absence. The University will then determine if the reason qualified for use of salary continuation/sick time.
     
11. Salary continuation/sick time may not be used beyond what is considered reasonable for the specific situation.
     
12. When salary continuation is not appropriate, the staff member may discuss other alternative work schedules with their supervisor (i.e. changing work hours, flexible work arrangement, etc.).
     
13. Staff members engaging in other employment or profit making activities while collecting salary continuation/sick time may lose rights to salary continuation/sick time as well as to continuation as a staff member of the University.
     
14. Examples of inappropriate salary continuation/sick time usage for appointments pertaining to health for family members would include: family members school cancellation days, nursing home visitations, non-medical related errands, parent-teacher conferences, sporting events, school events, social events, babysitting duties, and out of town travel.