Contact your Human Resource Department for the appropriate paperwork. Complete the appropriate sections and be sure to have your physician complete the sections that apply. Return the paperwork to HR ASAP.

APPLY for your Sickness & Accident Benefit. According to the Family & Medical Leave Act, your employer has the ability to force you to use any unpaid leave (vacation, etc.) during anytime you are on medical leave. However, according to a 2004 arbitration decision processed by the Local Union, citing Opinion Letter FMLA-52  any period of time that you are drawing your Sickness & Accident benefit, your employer cannot force you to use other paid leave.This would not include your waiting week.

However, most recently, 2008 changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement do not allow the Employer to force an employee to use vacation at anytime to cover FMLA when used for the employee's personal injjury or illness.

ARTICLE 23, SECTION 4

". . . . .However, the Company will not mandate an employee to use vacation while on medical leave as defined by the Act."