a.Based upon medical evidence of disability, a pregnant employee shall be entitled to a reasonable period of disability leave of up to four (4) months in duration. This leave shall be paid subject to the availability of sick leave and salary continuation benefits. The actual duration and scheduling of the disability leave shall be based upon a doctor’s certification of disability. (Note: The period of four (4) months is a statutory maximum and the doctor’s certification may be for a period of shorter duration.) The City shall retain the right to have an employee examined by a physician of the City’s choice to substantiate the claim of disability or to determine fitness to return to employment.

b.Once the disability period has lapsed, the employee must return to work or face termination, unless additional leave is approved by both the department head and the City Manager or designee. This additional leave is totally discretionary, and the granting of such an extension to one person does not give any right to others for such an additional period of leave. Such leave may be paid or unpaid, depending on the availability of other leave banks, such as vacation time, accumulated holiday time, or compensatory time off which has accrued.

c.The employee shall, insofar as possible, notify the City of when the pregnancy disability leave will be taken, the dates of the leave period, and present a statement of disability from the physician to the City verifying the above period of disability.