Leaves of absence and family/medical leave.
St. Louis Revised Code § 4.10.210
in effect4.10.210 - Leaves of absence and family/medical leave.
An employee may request a leave of absence, or an appointing authority may request a leave of absence for an employee, for any reason under the City's general leave policy, or a "Family/Medical Leave of Absence" for certain qualifying reasons under provisions of "The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993" as provided in this chapter and under additional provisions and regulations as determined by the Director of Personnel.
(a) An appointing authority, with the approval of the Director of Personnel, may grant an employee in a competitive position a general leave of absence without pay for a period of one (1) year, which may be extended, with the prior approval of the Director of Personnel.
Upon the expiration of such leave of absence, the employee shall be reinstated to the competitive position he/she occupied at the time the leave was granted provided the position is still in existence and he/she are able to perform the duties of the position. The employee shall be reinstated to the competitive position at the same relative rate in the salary range the employee occupied at the time the leave was initiated. Failure of an employee to report for duty promptly at the expiration of the leave shall be just cause for dismissal. If necessary to the efficient conduct of the business of the City, an employee on leave other than military leave or qualifying family/medical leave may be notified by the appointing authority, with the approval of the Director of Personnel, to return prior to the expiration of such leave. Failure of the employee to return within ten (10) calendar days after receipt of such notice shall terminate his/her leave of absence and be just cause for dismissal, subject to any applicable federal, state or local regulations.
(b) The City of St. Louis will follow all applicable state and federal laws on the granting of family/medical leave. The City of St. Louis will provide up to six (6) weeks of paid family/medical leave, in accordance with the City's "Family/Medical Leave Policy."
The Director of Personnel shall establish additional rules, guidelines and procedures for the effective administration of the City's "Family/Medical Leave Policy." The policy shall comply with all provisions of the "Family/Medical Leave Act of 1993" and any amendments thereafter.
Employees must take all of their accrued time (sick leave, medical leave, vacation leave) prior to being placed on leave without pay status for approved Family and medical leave, except employees can keep one (1) week of vacation hours (if they have accrued one (1) week of vacation and are eligible to take them). Employees will be allowed to use all their compensatory time, if requested by employee.
(c) Any employee in a competitive position who is appointed to an excepted position in the Classified Service shall be granted an in-service leave without pay from the competitive position during the term to which he/she is appointed to the excepted position. Such leave shall be for the term of the appointment to the excepted position and until his/her successor qualifies. Upon the expiration of the appointment to the excepted position, the employee shall be reinstated to the competitive position he/she occupied immediately prior to the in-service leave. The employee shall be reinstated to the competitive position as under a temporary promotion pursuant to Section 4.10.060(a)(2) of this chapter. Employees who are returned to a competitive position shall retain any vacation, compensatory time, sick leave, or medical leave balance in effect at the time of granting of the leave of absence for appointment to the excepted position. Employees shall be given credit for time spent in an excepted appointment in computing eligibility for additional vacation leave accrual.
(d) In the event that emergency conditions occur which require the closing of City-operated facilities, or the temporary cessation of functions carried out by classified employees, the Mayor of the City of St. Louis may declare an emergency and require an employee or group of employees to take leaves of absence with or without pay while such emergency conditions exist. In the event that the Mayor requires that the leave of absence be without pay, an employee with vacation or accrued compensatory time may elect to take the accrued time off with pay in lieu of all or a part of such non-paid leave of absence. Such non-paid leave of absence shall not interrupt continuity of service for vacation accrual. An emergency leave of absence declared by the Mayor shall not exceed ninety (90) days.
(e) Employees who are granted general leaves of absence and other non-paid leaves of absence, except military leave, must take all accrued vacation at the start of the leave of absence except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Employees who are granted or placed on a non-paid leave of absence will not accrue vacation, sick leave, and medical leave during the period of non-paid leave. Upon the expiration of such leaves of absence, the employee shall follow the procedures as established in this Section 4.10.210 and any other applicable regulations and procedures as established by the Director of Personnel.
(f) An appointing authority, with the prior approval of the Director of Personnel, may put an employee on a forced leave of absence with or without pay pending the outcome of an investigation or of a pending disciplinary action against the employee. Employees being placed on forced leave may elect to be placed on either vacation leave or compensatory time.
(g) In the event that a fiscal crisis occurs in the City of St. Louis, employees may request voluntary furloughs. The Director of Personnel may issue regulations to govern the furlough program.
(Ord. No. 71963, § 21, 2-11-2025; Ord. No. 71686, § 21, 6-28-2023; Ord. No. 71512, § 21, 6-16-2022; Ord. No. 71099, § 21, 2-27-2020.)
Source: City of St. Louis, Missouri, Revised Code of the City of Saint Louis, 2020, Annotated, and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mo/st._louis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT4PE_CH4.10CLSEPL_4.10.210LEABFAMELEFetched: 11/1/2026