Common use of SICKNESS OR ACCIDENT Clause in Contracts

SICKNESS OR ACCIDENT. If an employee who has established seniority is out of service due to occupational injury or occupational disease suffered or contracted while he is in the employ of the Company, he shall retain his seniority accrued at the date of his disability and continue to accrue seniority for a period of twenty-four (24) months or length of previously accrued seniority, whichever is less, during the period of his disability as a result thereof, notwithstanding any provisions of Article XI. If an employee who has established seniority is out of service due to nonoccupational injury or disease suffered while he was in the employ of the Company, he shall retain his accrued seniority for a period of twenty-four (24) months and will accrue seniority in the department in which he was last regularly employed for a period of one (1) year. Employees will be eligible to continue insurance benefits with the company while on short term and long term disability if they so desire. The employee must continue to pay that part of the insurance premiums for coverage to continue. Employees will accrue vacation time for the twenty-four month period of time. Under either of the above conditions, if an employee should accept an equal or better assignment elsewhere, his seniority shall be canceled. When an employee is out of work for the reasons set forth in this section, FMLA and relevant insurance coverage will be applied for the initial 12 weeks of the leave. After the initial 12 weeks, the employee will be entitled to continue health insurance coverage and at costs pursuant to his COBRA rights which will begin upon completion of the initial FMLA coverage.