ARTICLE XV - SICK LEAVE


Full-time employees hired after the signing of this Agreement are eligible to receive annual paid sick leave according to the following schedule: After three (3) months⤙ service, five (5) days sick pay. After one (1) year of service, ten (10) days sick pay and then five (5) days for each year of continuous service to a maximum of 12 weeks. Unused sick days shall not be carried over from one year to the next.

1a. Full-time and part-time employees hired prior to the signing of this Agreement will have

annual sick leave equal to the number of weeks of annual sick leave to which they were

entitled as of September 12, 2001, under the prior Agreement, provided that such

employees who have sick leave in excess of 12 weeks will not receive any additional sick

leave during the life of this Agreement and no such employee in any event will receive more than a maximum of 25 weeks. Employees entitled to more than 20 weeks under this arrangement shall have their sick leave renewed in subsequent years at 20 weeks after having used that portion between 20 and 25 weeks. In all other cases, an employee⤙s full allotment of sick leave, as determined herein, shall renew annually. In the case of an employee with sick leave benefits in excess of 10 weeks, the first 10 weeks will be paid at full salary, the remainder of the sick leave benefit will be paid at the rate of two-thirds of full pay. In the case of an employee with 15 years of service, the first 12 weeks will be at full pay and the balance at two-thirds of full pay. In the case of those with 20 years of service, the first 12 weeks will be paid at full pay and the balance at two-thirds of full pay.

2. Any amount awarded under the New York State Disability Law to the employee will be retained by the Freeman.

3. Sick leave will be paid to the individual employee as outlined above, except where said employee fails to notify the Publisher of his or her illness. Such notification shall be given by the employee to his or her supervisor, or in the supervisor⤙s absence, to another management representative. The employee shall, where practical, make this notification prior to the start of the employee⤙s scheduled shift. The nature and extent of the illness may be substantiated by a physician selected and paid for by the Publisher.

4. No deduction will be made for sick leave from overtime credited or to be credited to the employee.