3.68.020 Permissible Uses of Sick Leave.
A. Sick leave shall be paid at the employee's appropriate rate of pay plus longevity pay, if any, for the employee's own needs for the following reasons:
1. An absence resulting from an employee's mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; to accommodate the employee's need for medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; or an employee's need for preventive medical care;
2. To allow the employee to provide care for a family member (as defined in subsection B of this Section) with a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; care of a family member who needs medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; or care for a family member who needs preventive medical care;
3. When the employee's workplace has been closed by order of a public official for any health-related reason and no alternative site is designated by the County, or when an employee's child's school or place of care has been closed for such a reason;
4. For absences that qualify under the Domestic Violence Leave Act, Chapter 49.76 RCW, as set forth in Chapter 3.13 PCC of these guidelines;
5. Medical treatment or hospitalization of an employee required for participation in an organ donor, bone marrow transplant or other humanitarian medical process when verified by written statement from a competent attending medical authority. Approval may be granted by the Appointing Authority dependent upon operational necessity and work demands.
B. The family members to whom this Section applies are defined by RCW 49.46.210 and include:
1. A biological, adoptive, de facto, or foster parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or the employee's spouse or domestic partner, or a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee was a minor child;
2. Child, including a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, or a child to whom the employee stands in loco parentis, is a legal guardian, or is a de facto parent, regardless of age or dependency status;
3. Siblings;
4. Spouse;
5. Grandparent;
6. Domestic partner; and
7. Grandchild.
Domestic partner is defined in the Pierce County Administrative Guidelines and Chapter 3.98 PCC, which requires an affidavit be filed with the Human Resources Department.
C. Family Care Leave. An employee may use the leave of their choice subject to the provisions of this subsection under the circumstances listed below. If the employee chooses to use leave other than sick leave, unless otherwise provided by collective bargaining agreement, such leave shall be paid at the employee's regular straight-time base hourly rate of pay.
1. Any health condition affecting a covered employee's child under the age of 18 years, or for a child age 18 or older and incapable of self-care, which requires treatment or supervision including:
a. Health conditions requiring medication which cannot be self administered;
b. Medical or mental health conditions which would endanger the child's safety or recovery without the presence of a parent or guardian;
c. Any condition warranting preventive health care such as physical, dental, optical or immunization services when a parent must be present to authorize;
d. Any other circumstance which would constitute a permissible use of sick leave for the employee.
2. A serious health condition or emergency condition of a spouse, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent of the employee, domestic partner, parent of the domestic partner, or child age 18 or older and incapable of self care, which requires the employee's presence. Such leave shall only be approved for the duration of the condition.
D. For purposes of this Chapter, "in loco parentis" shall mean those persons who had day-to-day responsibility to care for and financially support the employee, on a long-term basis, when the employee was a child. Proof of such relationship may be required. A biological or legal relationship is not necessary.
E. Sick leave may be paid in accordance with Chapter 3.67 PCC, Family and Medical Leave.