Human Resources

The Diocese of Brownsville provides paid sick leave benefits to all eligible employees for periods of temporary absence due to illnesses or injuries.  Eligible employee classification(s):

• Regular full-time employees
• Regular part-time employees

Regular full-time employees will be awarded sick leave benefits at the rate of 10 days per year. Sick leave benefits are calculated on the basis of a “benefit year”, which is actually every fiscal year.

Regular part-time employees will be awarded sick leave based on the amount of hours that are worked during the workweek. The following schedule will be used to calculate sick leave for regular part-time employees:

 If the employee works :

• 30 hours a week         10 days at 6 hours a day
• 40 hours a week         10 days at 8 hours a day

Paid sick leave can be used in minimum increments of one hour. Eligible employees may use sick leave benefits for an absence due to their own illness or injury or that of a family member who resides in the employee’s household.

Employees who are unable to report to work due to illness or injury should notify their direct supervisor before the scheduled start of their workday if possible. The direct supervisor must also be contacted on each additional day of absence. If an employee is absent for three or more consecutive days due to illness or injury, a physician’s statement must be provided verifying the disability and its beginning and expected ending dates. Such verification may be requested for other sick leave absences as well and may be required as a condition to receiving sick leave benefits.  Before returning to work from a sick leave absence of three calendar days or more, an employee must provide a physician’s verification that he or she may safely return to work.

Sick leave benefits will be calculated based on the employee’s base pay rate at the time of absence.

Sick leave benefits are intended solely to provide income protection in the event of illness or injury, and may not be used for any other absence. Unused sick days may be rolled over for a maximum of 30 days. Unused sick leave benefits will not be paid to employees while they are employed or upon termination of employment. If an employee has depleted their sick days, they will begin the new fiscal year with 10 days.

Vacation time off with pay is available to eligible employees to provide opportunity for rest, relaxation, and personal pursuits. Employees in the following employment classification(s) are eligible to use vacation time as described in this policy:

• Regular full-time employees
• Regular part-time employees

The amount of paid vacation full-time employees receive each year increases with the length of their employment as shown in the following schedule:

• After 1 year of eligible service – entitlement is 10 vacation days each year
• After 5 years of eligible service – entitlement is 15 vacation days each year
• After 10 years of eligible service – entitlement is 20 vacation days each year

After completing the first year of employment, part-time employees are entitled to paid vacation time equivalent to the amount of hours they work in one workweek.

The length of eligible service is calculated on the basis of a “benefit year”. This is the 12-month period that begins when the employee starts to earn vacation time. An employee’s benefit year may be extended for any significant leave of absence except military leave of absence. Military leave has no effect on this calculation. (See individual leave of absence policies for more information.)

Once employees enter an eligible employment classification, they begin to earn paid vacation time according to the schedule. Earned vacation time is available for use in the year following its accrual.

Paid vacation time can be used in minimum increments of one-half day. To take vacation, employees should request in advance, approval from their supervisors. Requests will be reviewed based on a number of factors, including business needs and staffing requirements.

Vacation time off is paid at the employee’s base pay rate at the time of vacation. It does not include overtime.

As stated above, employees are encouraged to use available paid vacation time for rest, relaxation, and personal pursuits. In the event that available vacation is not used by the end of the benefit year, employees will forfeit the unused time.

Upon termination of employment, employees will be paid for unused vacation time that has been

earned through the last day of work.

The Diocese of Brownsville provides a comprehensive workers’ compensation insurance program at no cost to employees. This program covers any injury or illness sustained in the course of employment that requires medical, surgical, or hospital treatment. Subject to applicable legal requirements, workers’ compensation insurance provides benefits after a short waiting period, or, if the employee is hospitalized, immediately.

Employees who sustain work-related injuries or illnesses should inform their supervisor immediately. No matter how minor an on-the-job injury may appear, it is important that it be reported immediately. This will enable an eligible employee to qualify for coverage as quickly as possible.

Neither the Diocese of Brownsville, nor the insurance carrier will be liable for the payment of workers’ compensation benefits for injuries that occur during an employee’s voluntary participation in any off-duty recreational, social, or athletic activity sponsored by the Diocese of Brownsville.

Employee Handbook 2018