LOS ALAMITOS : City Adopts Family, Medical Leave Policy

The City Council has adopted a family and medical leave policy that will allow women to take up to seven months of leave without losing their jobs.

A female employee “disabled” by pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition may take the seven months of unpaid leave if a doctor or a licensed health professional certifies that it is necessary.

Other employees may take leaves of up to 12 weeks to care for a spouse, child or parent with a serious health condition or if they are sick themselves.

The policy, approved by a 3-0 vote last week, will take affect immediately and will benefit the city’s 56 full-time employees.

Mayor Anthony R. Selvaggi and council members Alice Jempsa and Robert P. Wahlstrom voted to adopt the policy. Council members Ronald Bates and Charles E. Sylvia were absent.

Assistant City Manager Gerard Goedhart said that the family and medical leave policy was drafted with the consent of the various employee groups.

Under contracts with the employees, the city allows employees to take up to six months of leave without pay, Goedhart said. This benefit will stay, he said.

The city leave policy matches federal laws that require businesses with more than 50 employees to provide 12 weeks unpaid leave for sick employees and those wishing to care for a sick family member.

But employees must use up all their accumulated sick leave and vacation time before they are eligible for unpaid leave. A request must be made in writing 30 days before the leave begins, or an advance notice must be made to the city manager and the employee’s department head.