§ 70-176. Military leave.

(a)

The authority for this section is derived from the provisions of O.C.G.A. § 38-2-279 and applies to all city employees who are affiliated with the United States Armed Forces, National Guard or Coast Guard.

(b)

Employer's responsibilities:

(1)

The city is obligated to release employees for service with the armed forces when the employee participates in:

a.

Annual training.

b.

Inactive duty training assemblies (weekend drills).

c.

Involuntary call-up.

(2)

Ordered military duty shall result in no loss of seniority status or benefits which would have normally accrued if the employee had not been absent for such purposes.

(3)

The city is obligated to grant military leave with pay to the employees for absences not exceeding 18 calendar days per year in accordance with state law. The city shall not require the employee to use personal leave for such purposes. The employee may, however, request use of personal leave, or leave without pay, to supplement absences exceeding those covered by the 18-day military leave allowance.

(c)

Employee's responsibilities:

(1)

The employee is responsible to provide to his department head copies of all military orders which will result in a leave of absence for military duty. Orders must specify the duties of absence, promulgation authority, letter order number and signature of issuing authority. Employees are required to notify their supervisors at the earliest possible date upon learning of scheduled military duty.

(2)

Employees who fail to return to work on the date specified in the leave request without receiving an extension in advance are subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.

(3)

Inactive duty training dates (weekend drills) should be provided to the department head as soon as available if the dates conflict with scheduled employment with the city.

(4)

Extended leave of absence (exceeding 18 calendar day allowance) will be pursuant to the policy on leave of absence without pay.

(Code 1989, § 2-5-66; Ord. No. 05-06-14, 6-14-2005)

State law reference

Rights of public officers and employees absent on military duty, O.C.G.A. § 38-2-279.