Leave Questions

What is FMLA?

The Family and Medical Leave Act was designed to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave to meet family responsibilities and medical needs. This federal act went into effect August 5, 1993.

What does the term 'Paid Leave' mean?

Instead of having sick leave and vacation leave in two separate accounts, all benefit-eligible 12-month faculty & staff have an account called Paid Leave. This reflects the total hours that an employee accrues that can be applied towards time off for vacation purposes, personal illness, or for any other time that an employee must be away from work. New employees cannot use paid leave for vacation until they have fulfilled their probationary period.

What happens to my paid leave once I reach my maximum?

The amount over your maximum accrual will roll over into your extended sick leave account and that account does NOT have a maximum. However, once it rolls into your ESL account, it can only be used for extended personal illnesses.

What is ESL?

Extended Sick Leave is to be used only for an employee's extended personal illness. Five (5) consecutive working days of paid leave (or unpaid leave if balance is less than 40 hours) must be used before ESL can be accessed. A doctor's statement must be provided to the employee's department before that department can start processing the paperwork to allow time off to be charged to ESL.