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Administrative Manual - 207 Leaves of Absence

207.07 Professional Advancement Leave

  1. POLICY

    It is the policy of JSA to encourage the professional growth of employees. While such leaves generally shall be unpaid leaves of absence, JSA has the option of providing partially paid leave to a limited number of employees.

  2. ENTITLEMENTS
    1. Upon recommendation by an employee's Associate Director and with prior approval by DOE, up to 12 months of leave for professional advancement may be granted by the Director.
    2. Leaves may be granted for assignment to other institutions within the United States or abroad for teaching, research or professional activities.
    3. Partial salaries may be paid only upon approval of the Director, in which event some benefits also may be prorated.
  3. QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATE
    1. The candidate shall be a regular, full-time employee of JSA, who is a senior level scientist or engineer or a person having major administrative responsibility.
    2. The candidate shall be one of distinctly outstanding professional ability, with a firm plan of teaching, research or professional activities, which is clearly relevant to the interests of JSA and to the individual's competence.
  4. APPLICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL LEAVE
    1. The employee who wishes to take such leave shall describe in writing the opportunity, the length of leave desired, and whether salary is requested.
    2. The written request shall be forwarded to the respective supervisor for assessment.
    3. The supervisor shall forward the request through the chain-of-supervision to the respective Associate Director, with reasons for recommending approval or rejection and a guarantee that the employee's position shall remain vacant for the duration of the leave, or that a comparable position shall be made available.
    4. If the Associate Director approves the request, he/she shall forward it to the Director for final JSA approval. If the Director approves the request, he/she shall forward it to the HR&S Director, who holds responsibility for gaining Contracting Officer (DOE) approval.
  5. GENERAL TERMS AND PROVISIONS
    1. The number of leaves granted at any time is limited to five, to ensure adequate staff to meet the operational needs of JSA.
    2. Except in extremely unusual circumstances, and only with the prior approval of DOE, an employee shall not be granted leave more than once in a five-year period nor shall such leave exceed twelve (12) months.
    3. The employee's position shall be held open during the entire period of the leave, or the division shall ensure that there is a comparable position the employee may return to.
    4. JSA shall not reimburse travel costs.
    5. Vacation and sick leave shall not accrue to the individual while on Professional Advancement Leave.
    6. Group benefit insurance coverage shall continue for the leave period if the employee arranges to make all premium payments normally paid by JSA and the employee.
    7. The employee shall remain in the JSA retirement plan, but all contributions to his/her account will be calculated at the rate of pay effective during the leave.
    8. The basis for salary reimbursement during a Professional Advancement Leave shall be:
      1. Salary payments made by JSA to an employee on Professional Advancement Leave shall not exceed two-thirds (2/3) of the employee's current base salary.
      2. The total of JSA salary payments plus any stipend, grant or other income which the employee may receive in connection with the leave shall not exceed the employee's current base salary.
    9. A performance appraisal is not normally required for a performance period in which the majority of the time is spent on Professional Advancement Leave. However, based on the eligibility criteria that only employees with distinctly outstanding ability qualify for Professional Advancement Leave, a salary increase will be provided based on the Lab-wide average percentage merit increase.
    10. The Associate Director will determine whether an employee on professional advancement leave will receive a performance appraisal and be eligible for a merit-based salary increase based on the nature of the Professional Advancement Leave assignment. The employee will be informed of the decision prior to beginning a Professional Advancement Leave.
    11. In the event the employee does not return to JSA from a Professional Advancement Leave, the reasons for the employee not returning shall be reviewed by the appropriate Associate Director and the HR&S Director to determine whether the employee shall be required to reimburse JSA for any salary paid, retirement contributions made, or additional benefits provided during the leave.


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