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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0165.091.. ~ . . --';', '.:.~.- February 28, 1991 The Honorable City Council Palo Alto, California Attention: Policy and Procedures co~~tttee Pro~e •• lonal Development S~batieal Leave Members of the Council: Report in Brief Council referred the subject of sabbatical leave for management employees to tlle Policy and Procedures committee to review the adequacy of the current policy with regard to guidelines for application, approval and compensation levels. Staff has identified areas within the policy where amendment appears appropriate and recommends that council direct staff to include these recommended changes to the policy within the package which will be discllssed with management employees and prepared for the annual review of the Management Compensation Plan prior to th~ end of ~e fiscal year~ Piscussion The ci~yrs management benefit program authorizes paid leaves of absence for professional development, i.e. sabbatical leaves. Leaves of absence with pay for up to thirty days may be granted by council-Appointed Officers for their employees; the council has reserved the authority to grant longer paid leaves of absence for a period not to excl3-eQ one year. The paid sabbatical leave benefit bas bean a part of the Management Compensation Plan since 1972. After the approval of a sabbatical leave was last considered and granted by the Councii in July 1990, the Co~~cil directed that the Policy and Procedures Committee. should review the existing policy to determine if it provides adequate criteria or guidance for the applicant as well as the Council. 'I'he sabbatica.l leave program is currently defined in the Management Compensation Plan as follows: CMIl:165:91 . - -_. __ ._-..... .. • -" Paqe Two Professional peyelopment -Sabbatical ~~~ Authorized paid leaves of absenc~ for up to one year will be ~ranted in accordance vith the following requirements! a. Sabbatical leave program shall be beneficial to the employee's job assignment. b. An employee's job assig1Ul1Bnt activity shall be ~dequ~taly covered during his abS9nce with empbasis cn the development of sUbordinates. c.. ~be leave of absence period will be adequately coordinated with departmental priorities a...-..d lIorkload. d. Leave oL absence sabbaticals snO"..J.1d be based on internship exchanges, and/or loaned executive arrangement"si scholastic and/or authorsbip programs; or educational 'travel-study plans. Leave of absence schedules Ifill be apportioned among all l~vels of management and conLid6n~ial employees and will be base~ on an evalu~tion of each employee~s performance record~ Each Daid sabbatical leave will be limited to a maximum or one year .. with not more tban two employees being on leave simulta."lGously. Sabbatical lElaves JIIu.s:t be cleared in advance and approved by Council-appointed officers and council. staff has reviewed the conditions related to the prior sabbatical leaves approved; i;)y Council an.J the issues raised Quring Council discussion of the policy and proposes that the requirements associated. with application for sabbatical leave be expanded to include the following: a minimum tenure with the City prior to eligibility; a commitment to return to employment with the city for a ~pecifi~d period of time followinq the leave; ana, clarification of the status of salary and benefits during the period of the leave. staff further proposes that the reference ·sabbatical leave-be changed to ·protessional development leave-, which is more descriptive, and that the polle, be amended to authorize the City Manager and the Council Appointed Officers to approve such leaves and inform the council of any leaves which are approyed in excess of thirty c!ays_ CMR:165:91 • \ Paqe Three Recoallendtti.2n Staff recommends that council direct sta.if to include .. lIo'ithin the packaqe to be dis~~ssed ~i~~ aanaqament employees and prepared fo~ the annual review of the M~aqement Compensation Plan, changes in the sabbatic~l leave policy with respect to title, minimum tenure, employment commitment, and clarification of salary and benefits durinq the leave. staff further recOlmDends that the policy he amended. to. authorize the City Hanaqe.r ar.d Council Appointed Officers to approve such leaves and inform the Con . ."lcil of any leaves granted in exces~ of thirty days. Respectfully submitted, #~~"-~ VIcel IR.'IlIN Assistant to the city Manager 0,~L ,-v',o/.t- JA o e or, Hum R~urces CIIR:165:91 • -"--~ ;.,0.:1;, <~:o: '~~_~, _. _._~"li' };~~,~,'