Military leave is provided in accordance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and any additional applicable state and federal laws.

Leave for reserve or guard training: In accordance with Chapter 115.07, F.S. all City officers or employees who are commissioned reserve officers or reserve enlisted personnel in the United States military or naval service or members of the National Guard are entitled to leave of absence from their respective duties, without loss of vacation leave, pay, time or efficiency rating, on all days during which they are engaged in training ordered under the provisions of the United States military or naval training regulations for such personnel when assigned to active or inactive duty. Leaves of absence with full pay for training shall not exceed 240 hours per calendar year. (Fire Department personnel assigned to a 24-hour shift shall be granted up to eight and one-half (8 1/2) shifts of military leave for training per year.) Employee must submit a copy of the training orders prior to taking leave in order to be paid for the leave if orders are provided to the employee. If orders are not provided in writing for leave that is less than 30 days, the employee’s verbal notice of leave will be sufficient. Questions concerning validation of leave should be directed to Human Resources.

Any required training beyond the authorized 240 hours of full pay will be charged to the employee’s vacation leave balance or designated as approved leave without pay.

Leave for Active Duty

In accordance with Chapter 115.09 and 115.14, F.S., City officials and employees who are also service members in the National Guard or a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States shall be granted leave of absence from work to perform active military service. The first 30 days of leave will be with full pay. Benefits continuation while on active duty will be determined by the benefits contracts in place at the time of leave and with the requirements provided in the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), Chapter 43 of Title 38 U.S.C. During active duty leave employees preserve all seniority rights, efficiency ratings, promotional status, and retirement privileges.

Supplemental Pay While On Active Duty

The City has the authority to supplement an employees pay while on active duty following the first 30 days of paid leave if his pay while serving in the military is less than his pay at the City.