The district provides leaves of absences to allow employees to be absent from work to attend to important matters outside of the workplace. As public employers, school districts are expected to record and monitor the work that employees perform and to conform to principles of public accountability in their compensation practices.
Consistent with principles of public accountability, it is the policy of the district that, when an employee is absent from work for less than one work day and the employee does not use accrued leave for such absence, the employee’s pay will be reduced or the employee will be placed on leave without pay if:
- the employee has not sought permission to use paid leave for this partial-day absence,
- the employee has sought permission to use paid leave for this partial-day absence and permission has been denied,
- the employee’s accrued paid leave has been exhausted, or
- the employee chooses to use leave without pay.
In each case in which an employee is absent from work for part of a work day, a deduction from compensation will be made or the employee will be placed on leave without pay for a period of time which is equal to the employee’s absence from the employee’s regularly scheduled hours of work on that day.
The district complies with all applicable laws with respect to payment of wages and benefits to employees including laws such as the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the Iowa Wage Payment Collection Act. The district will not make pay deductions that violate either the federal or state laws.
Any employee who believes that the district has made an inappropriate deduction or has failed to make proper payment regarding wages or benefits is encouraged to immediately consult with the appropriate supervisor. Alternatively, any employee may file a formal written complaint with the Board Secretary. Within 15 business days of receiving the complaint, the Board Secretary will make a determination as to whether the pay deductions were appropriate and provide the employee with a written response that may include reimbursement for any pay deductions that were not appropriately made. This complaint procedure is available in addition to any other complaint process that also may be available to employees.
Approved November 11, 2013
Reviewed August 16, 2023
Revised November 26, 2018
