Absence From Work Procedure - 63.09.01
College Policy Number/Title:
Punctuality:
Howard Community College (HCC) employees are expected to report to work on time, as set forth by departmental policy in accordance with departmental needs and consistent with college policy. Employees should immediately contact their supervisors if they will be late reporting to work. A pattern of repeated lateness or unexcused absence is cause for review and possible counseling/discipline by supervisors in accordance with college policy.
Advanced Approval of Leave:
To maintain a productive, service-oriented environment in the college community, regular attendance of all faculty and staff is essential. Foreseeable absences must be approved in advance.
Employees should request all foreseeable leave seven days in advance, using a "Request for Leave" form available in the office of human resources or on the HCC portal, or via self-serve leave reporting, email or calendar requests, at the discretion of the supervisor. Leave types not available in self-service, such as leave without pay or FMLA leave must be requested using the “Request for Leave” form.
Unplanned Absences:
An unplanned absence is when employees give to their supervisor same-day notice of an absence without prior written approval. Unplanned absences may be for illness or medical condition or other emergency reasons. In these cases, employees must request leave from their supervisors no later than the start of the employee’s scheduled work shift, unless special circumstances exist which prevent such timely notification. Supervisors should specify to their employees what methods of absence notification are acceptable, such as phone call, email, text, or other means. Written documentation should follow if the employee is absent from work for more than five days.
Absence without Leave or Authorization:
An employee who is absent from work without requesting authorization from their supervisor will be considered absent without leave. If the absence without requested leave reaches three consecutive working days, the Voluntary Quit provision of procedure 63.03.06, Resignation will apply.
Unacceptable Usage of Leave
Supervisors may counsel or discipline employees for unacceptable usage of leave, which may include excessive amounts of leave used, an excessive number of absences (particularly unplanned absences), or a noticeable pattern of leave usage. In some cases, a supervisor may require that an employee provide medical documentation to support absences and charge any undocumented absences to leave without pay, unless such absences fall under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) (refer to procedure 63.08.15, Family and Medical Leave Act). The office of human resources should be consulted before a supervisor takes any action against an employee for unacceptable usage of leave.
Effective Date: 06/30/22
President's Office Use: CHRO