Personal Leave of Absence

Eligibility
Employees who have successfully completed their Introductory Employment Period but have fewer than six months of service in a regular position may request a personal leave of absence for a period not to exceed 10 workdays. Employees who have completed a minimum of six months of service in a regular position may request longer periods of personal leave.

Employees must use all of their applicable accrued annual and sick time during a personal leave of absence. To apply for a personal leave of absence, the employee must submit a written request (see chart below regarding who an employee submits their request to) and receive written approval of that request. If the employee is absent without receiving written approval, s/he will be considered absent without approved leave (AWOL). 

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Requests for Personal Leave
An employee must submit a written request for a personal leave in advance of the intended leave to their appropriate Department Head, Vice President, or Dean (as defined below), with a copy of that request sent to their immediate Supervisor. The request must include the purpose of the leave, the date the leave is to begin, and the date the employee intends to return to work. Please see the chart below for information regarding requests for personal leave and approval procedures.

Personal Leave Requests
Leave Periods	Required Approvals
Up to 10 workdays	Department Head
More than 10 workdays, but fewer than 90 calendar days	Written approval of Vice President or Dean
90 calendar days or more	Written approval of Vice President or Dean
Leave extension beyond original leave period	Written approval of Vice President or Dean
Leave extension beyond 90 calendar days	Written approval of Vice President or Dean
New request for leave within six consecutive calendar months following previous leave	Written approval of Vice President or Dean

Supervisors will forward the approved request for personal leave and the Personnel Action Form (PAF, together with the written approval (or denial) from the Department Head, Vice President, or Dean, to the Benefits Administration Department. The information is then included in the employee's personnel record.

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Reinstatement
An employee who returns to work within the approved leave period is guaranteed reinstatement to his or her former position or an equivalent position. Failure to return to work within the approved period may result in termination unless the employee has requested and been granted an extension.

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Effect of Personal Leave on Annual and Sick Time
An employee on unpaid leave will not accrue annual or sick time for each full calendar month of absence. Employees on unpaid leave for a portion of a calendar month receive pro-rated annual time and pro-rated sick timefor the portion of the month that they work.

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Effect of Personal Leave on Merit Increases
For personal leave periods exceeding 90 calendar days, the amount of merit increase, if any, will be prorated based on time spent at work during that review period.

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Effect of Personal Leave on Benefits
While on approved personal leave, employees are eligible to continue specific benefits. Employees should contact the Benefits Administration Department for information on benefits continuation.

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