Leave Benefits
Leave of Absence
A leave of absence for reasonable lengths of time and for good cause may be granted to regular staff employees based upon individual consideration. The duration of such leave may not exceed twelve months. An extended leave of absence, excluding entitlement to Family and Medical Leave, is not an inherent right, but is the prerogative of the University. The President of the University may grant exceptions to the limitations of this section if the employee is taking leave for a reason such as: to work for another state government entity under an interagency agreement; or for educational purposes.
- Family and Medical Leave
State employees who have been employed for 12 months by the state, and who have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12-month period immediately preceding the commencement of leave, are entitled to leave pursuant to the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), provided that the employee utilizes all available applicable paid vacation and sick leave while taking leave pursuant to this provision. As an exception to the requirement to utilize all paid vacation and sick leave, employees on Family and Medical Leave who are receiving temporary disability benefit payments or workers' compensation benefits shall not be required to utilize paid vacation or sick leave while on such leave.
All employees are entitled to an unpaid leave of up to twelve weeks in any 12-month period under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). As authorized by Federal law, all paid sick leave, paid vacation, paid extended sick leave, paid sick leave pool hours and any other paid or unpaid leave used in conjunction with any eligible Family and Medial Leave absence count toward the twelve week limit allowable under this law.
Leave may be requested for the following reasons:
- The birth of a son or daughter to the employee if the purpose of the leave is to care for the child (if Family and Medical Leave is requested and concluded within 12 months after the child's birth);
- The adoption or placement for foster care of a child with the employee (if Family and Medical Leave is requested and concluded during the first 12 months after placement);
- The care of a spouse, parent, or child who has a serious health condition; or a serious health condition of an employee that prevents the employee from performing the functions of his/her job.
- Parental Leave
Employees with less than 12 months of state service or less than 1,250 hours of work in the 12 months immediately preceding the start of leave are entitled to a parental leave of absence, not to exceed 12 weeks, if the employee uses all available and appropriate paid vacation and sick leave while taking the parental leave. Such parental leave may only be taken for the birth of a natural child or the adoption or foster care placement with the employee of a child under three years of age. The leave period begins with the date of birth or the adoption or foster care placement. Sick leave may be used in conjunction with FMLA leave when a child under the age of three is adopted regardless of whether the child is actually sick at the time of adoption.
- Foster Parent Leave
A state employee, who is a foster parent to a child under the conservatorship of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (DPRS) is entitled to a leave of absence with full pay for the purpose of attending staffing meetings held by the DPRS regarding the employee's foster child. In addition, the employee may attend, with a paid leave of absence, the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meeting held by a school district regarding his or her foster child.
- Parent-Teacher Conference Leave
An employee may use up to eight hours of sick leave each calendar year to attend parent-teacher conference sessions for the employee's children who are in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Employees must give reasonable notice of intention to use sick leave to attend such conferences.
- Leave for Employees With a Disability
A state employee who is a person with a disability as defined by the Human Resources Code section 121.002 shall be granted a paid leave of absence not to exceed 10 days each fiscal year for the purpose of attending a training program to acquaint the employee with an assistance dog to be used by the employee.
- Military Leave
State employees are eligible for the following types of leave for military service: 1) authorized training or duty for members of the state military forces and members of any of the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces; 2) call to National Guard active duty by the Governor; and 3) national emergency active duty for a member of a reserve branch of the U.S. armed forces.
- Volunteer Firefighter Training Leave
Volunteer firefighters shall be granted a paid leave of absence not to exceed five working days each fiscal year for attending training schools conducted by state agencies. This leave of absence may also be granted to volunteer firefighters for the purpose of responding to emergency fire situations if the agency or institution has an established policy for granting the leave time.
- Certified American Red Cross Activities Leave
Any state employee who is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American Red Cross, or who is in training to become such a volunteer, may be granted a leave of absence not to exceed ten days each year to participate in specialized disaster relief services. The employee must have supervisory authorization in addition to a request from the American Red Cross and the approval of the Governor's Office. If the above conditions are met, the employee will not lose pay, vacation time, sick leave or earned overtime, and/or compensatory time during such leave. The pool of certified disaster volunteers must not exceed 350 participants at any one time.
- Administrative Leave for Outstanding Performance
Administrative leave with pay may be granted by the head of an agency as a reward for outstanding performance as documented by employee performance appraisals. The total amount of such administrative leave granted may not exceed 32 hours during any fiscal year.
- Developmental Leave
Extended leaves of absence without pay may be granted to full-time staff employees based upon individual consideration. Normally the purpose of such leave is to develop or enhance the individual's total effectiveness to the benefit of the University and the individual.
Employees who wish to request a leave of absence must submit a Leave of Absence Request (ASU Form P7). An employee who has been granted an extended leave of absence due to a temporary disability, including pregnancy, must submit a written statement from his/her physician which indicates the employee's ability to resume his/her normal duties at the University.
Sick Leave
Sick leave with pay may be taken when injuries, illness, or pregnancy prevent employees from working. It may also be used when employees or faculty must be off work to care for an immediate family member who is ill.
Sick leave for full-time employees/faculty is accrued at a rate of 8 hours per month. Eligible part-time employees accrue sick leave on a pro-rated basis. There is no maximum on the amount of sick leave that can be accrued and carried over from one year to the next.
Employees who resign or are dismissed/separated from State employment forfeit accrued sick leave. Employees may transfer unused sick leave from one State agency to another.
Upon returning to duty after being on sick leave, an employee shall immediately complete the Employee Absence Form.
Vacation Leave
Vacation leave for full-time employees is accrued in accordance with the table below. Eligible part-time employees accrue vacation leave on a pro-rated basis. Vacation leave accrues from the first day of employment, but may not be used for six months.
An Employee Absence Form should be submitted far enough in advance to insure prior approval through proper channels.
Employees who resign or are dismissed/separated from State employment are entitled to be paid for all unused vacation leave accrued. Employees may transfer unused vacation leave from one State agency to another.
| Years of Employment (State of Texas) |
Hours/Month | Days/Year | Maximum Hours to Carry Forward from Year to Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years but less than 2 | 8 hours | 12 | 180 hours |
| 2 years but less than 5 | 9 hours | 13.5 | 244 hours |
| 5 years but less than 10 | 10 hours | 15 | 268 hours |
| 10 years but less than 15 | 11 hours | 16.5 | 292 hours |
| 15 years but less than 20 | 13 hours | 19.5 | 340 hours |
| 20 years but less than 25 | 15 hours | 22.5 | 388 hours |
| 25 years but less than 30 | 17 hours | 25.5 | 436 hours |
| 30 years but less than 35 | 19 hours | 28.5 | 484 hours |
| 35 years or more | 21 hours | 31.5 | 532 hours |