• Instagram Icon
  • Vimeo Icon
  • YouTube Icon
  • Nextdoor Icon
  • Search Icon
main content

Time Off


Annual Leave

Annual leave is accumulated monthly and based upon years of service as follows:

Years of Service

Annual Leave

Less than five years

12 days per year

Five through fifteen years

15 days per year

More than fifteen years

20 days per year


Annual leave may be taken as earned by employees hired after January 1, 1989. Employees hired prior to that date use annual leave within the calendar year following the year the leave is earned. All employees may carry over up to a maximum of 20 days at the end of the calendar year. Regular part-time employees who work at least 20 hours per week accrue annual leave at the rate of 4 hours per month.

Sick Leave

All regular full-time employees are eligible to earn 12 days (Annual Accrual Rate) of sick leave each year. Regular part-time employees will accrue sick leave at 50% of the Annual Accrual Rate of 12 days. Temporary full-time and temporary part-time employees are not eligible for sick leave.

The total number of hours accrued each year by Police Officers and Firefighters is based on the number of standard hours they are expected to work in a bi-weekly pay period. However, the number of hours earned will reflect an amount equal to the Annual Accrual Rate indicated above using their standard workday as the benchmark.

There will be no limit to the number of days that may be accumulated.

Paid sick leave shall not be taken prior to the time it is earned.

Sick leave may be granted for the following reasons:

  1. Personal illness.
  2. Serious illness or death of a member of the employee’s immediate family. In the event of death in the immediate family, benefits offered under the funeral leave policy shall be applied before sick leave is used. “Immediate family” for sick leave usage is defined as: the Spouse, Daughter, Stepdaughter, Daughter-in-law, Son, Stepson, Son-in-law, Mother, Stepmother, Mother-in-law, Father, Stepfather, Father-in-law, Brother, Stepbrother, Brother-in-law Sister, Stepsister, Sister-in-law, Grandfather, Grandmother, Grandfather-in-law, Grandmother-in-law, Grandchild, Foster child, or Guardian.
  3. Employee medical appointments, which cannot be arranged at any time other than during the employee’s normal working hours.

Employees who are absent from work, on leave without pay, will not earn sick leave during the balance of such leave.

Approval

Requests for sick leave approval shall be given by the employee to the appropriate supervisor or designee prior to the beginning of the work shift. If prior notification is not possible, requests must be made within one (1) hour after reporting time on the day of absence. Departments involved in Public Safety or other responsibilities, requiring advance notice, may set different notification requirements based on operational need. Absences due to doctor’s appointments or other foreseeable causes shall be approved prior to the use of sick leave. Proof of illness or other circumstances necessitating sick leave usage may be required by the Department Director in order for such paid leave to be authorized.

When a holiday occurs during an employee’s illness, the sick day shall be charged as a holiday, except for shift workers who will have to supplement for sick pay.

Accrual

Employees who have completed their one year probationary period with the City will, upon termination in good standing, be paid for accumulated sick leave, as follows:

  • 2-9 years 25% of all sick leave accrued
  • 10-14 years 30% of all sick leave accrued
  • 15-19 years 40% of all sick leave accrued
  • 20 years and over 50% of all sick leave accrued

The maximum amount to be paid to any single employee shall not exceed $8,000. A maximum of $8,000 of the payout amount may be used for pension calculations, and shall not exceed that amount accrued during the period used to calculate final average compensation for pension purposes.

(Note: This policy is intended to codify and make applicable a long standing administrative practice that has been consistently followed with all existing retirees and although enacted on the effective date, is intended to relate to the benefit calculation of all existing retirees.)

 

  • Sick Leave

    Unlimited accrual at the rate of one day per month. Eligible for use as soon as earned. Regular part-time employees who work at least 20 hours per week accrue sick leave at the rate of 4 hours per month.

  • Sick Leave Pool

    Allows employees to receive sick leave benefits in cases involving catastrophic or long-term illnesses or injuries after all personal leave time has been depleted.

    Regular full-time employees contribute 8 hours and Regular part-time employees contribute 4 hours on an annual basis. Employees must have completed one full year of service on or before December 31st of the calendar year enrollment; and have accumulated at least 40 hours of sick time (20 hours for Regular part-time employees).

    Participation in this program is voluntary.

  • Family & Medical Leave

    Federal legislation guarantees up to 12 weeks per year off work under certain circumstances outlined under Family and Medical Leave Act §825.110.

    The employees must have been employed by the City for at least 12 months and have at least 1,250 hours of service during the 12 month period before the requested leave.

    The City of Lakeland will continue its group life and health insurance for an employee on leave at the same level and under the same conditions that existed while the employee was working.

  • Holidays

    Twelve (12) paid holidays; includes one personal floating holiday to be used at any time after three months of employment and prior to the end of the calendar year.

  • Funeral Leave

    Up to three days off with pay due to death of an immediate family member (as defined in the policy manual).

    Up to four hours off with pay may be obtained through supervisor approval to attend local funeral services of persons other than immediate family.

  • Jury/Witness Duty

    Employees required to serve on jury duty will be relieved of responsibility for their regular work shift or portion thereof and receive full pay while serving.

    All fees received for such service may be retained by the employee.

    Employees subpoenaed to any civil or criminal court proceeding, which employee is not personally or monetarily interested, shall be paid as if engaged in regular work activities.

  • Military Leave

    Allows for up to 240 hours in any one calendar year for annual military training without loss of pay or benefits for any employee in some type of reserve status for the United States Armed Forces. (see policy manual for additional information).

  • Maternity Leave

    Refer to Family & Medical Leave for those employees who qualify.

    Others may take up to three months leave of absence available upon approval of the Department Head. Employees may opt to utilize any combination of paid (sick or annual leave) or unpaid leave.

  • Leave of Absence Without Pay

    Written requests are subject to approval by Department Head and City Manager or designee for less than 90 days. Requests for more than 90 days also require Civil Service Board approval for employees in a Civil Service classification.

     

  • Break Periods

    Employees may be permitted two 15 minute breaks during the work day. The time shall be at the discretion of the supervisor.