Policy 5401 - Sick Leave

Compliance with RCW 28A.400.300

The Richland School District will grant each certificated and classified employee of the district sick leave in accordance with RCW 28A.400.300 and applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Attendance Incentive Program

Eligible employees may cash out accumulated sick leave in accordance with WAC 392-136-015 and WAC 392-136-020.

Employees Covered by RCW 49.46.210

For employees covered by RCW 49.46.210, the district will comply with that statute and the regulations that implement it. The superintendent or designee may adopt a procedure that addresses sick leave use by employees covered by RCW 49.46.210.

Verification

For employees not covered by RCW 49.46.210, the district may require those employees to provide verification for the need to take sick leave when they take more than three consecutive days of sick leave.

Unpaid Leave

Employees who exhaust their paid sick leave may request unpaid leave. At its discretion, the district will determine whether to grant unpaid leave. If an employee does not receive approval for unpaid leave, but nonetheless does not attend work, they will be considered absent without leave and may be subject to discipline.

Legal References:

RCW 49.46.200 Paid sick leave
RCW 49.46.210 Paid sick leave-Authorized purposes-Limitations-Family member-defined
Chapter 296-128 WAC Minimum Wages
RCW 28A.400.210 Employee attendance incentive program-Remuneration or benefit plan for unused sick leave
RCW 28A.400.300 Hiring and discharging of employees-Written leave policies-Seniority and leave benefits, of employees transferring between schools districts and other educational employers
WAC 392-136 WAC Finance - Conversion of Accumulated Sick Leave
AGO 1964 No. 98 Sick leave for certificated and non-certificated employees
AGO 1980 No. 22 Limitation on compensated leave for school district employees
 

Adoption:

Adopted: September 10, 1991
Revised: October 23, 2018
May 26, 2026