Eligibility
Employees who are voluntarily or involuntarily called to service for:
This is an unpaid leave in a manner consistent with applicable Arizona Revised Statutes and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), unless eligible for the 30 days paid military leave.
Procedure
- Submit a Leave of Absence request.
- Attach a copy of your active duty orders to the request.
Status While on Leave
Pay
Employees will receive their regular compensation during Extended Military Leave or Military Training Leave not to exceed 30 workdays in any two (2) consecutive calendar years. Active-duty orders must accompany the request for paid military leave.
Benefits
Deductions will be taken from your paycheck as long as you are on paid status (e.g., vacation time, sick time, military pay, etc.). Upon entering non-pay status, you may continue health benefits by making arrangements with the Human Resources Leaves Administration to pay the employee cost.
Following the leave start date, you will receive an email from the Human Resources Leaves Administration, which includes:
- A form to waive, change, or continue the existing benefits;
- A bill with the itemized employee benefit cost and payment schedule
- Other helpful information
Leave Accruals
Vacation and sick hours will accrue while an employee is on a paid status.
Retirement
No refund of any retirement contribution is made upon the commencement of the leave, since the return of the employee is anticipated. Service credits do not accrue during any period of unpaid leave but will commence upon the employee’s return to work.
Other Benefits
Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) benefit remains in effect for employees during the leave period as does the use of university facilities.
Continuous Service
Computation of service dates for continuous service, vacation accrual rates, seniority, and general pay adjustments will include this leave as creditable service providing the employee returns to work on the first workday following the termination of the authorized leave.
Military Differential Pay Information
University of Arizona employees called to active military duty during an emergency as reservists or members of the National Guard may be eligible for Military Differential Pay under the State of Arizona. If you believe you may be eligible to receive Military Differential Pay, please email your leave specialist at leaves@arizona.edu.
Your Rights Under USERRA
Please refer to the USERRA Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Military pay calculations are based on a calendar year, January to December.
- 30 days of military pay will be coded as “MLE” or “MLP”
- A complete list of time reporting codes and descriptions is available on the Financial Services Office website.
Yes. After the 30 days allotted time for military pay has been exhausted, you may then elect to use your vacation time.
If the 30 days of paid time is used in one year, then you will not be eligible to receive military pay the following year.
Yes, this is a qualifying exigency under FML arising from your spouse being on active duty (or having been notified of an impending call to duty). Request FML by completing the leave request form.
- American Red Cross/Armed Forces Emergency Services - Phone: 1-877-272-7337
- US Code: Title 38, Chapter 43 provides the text of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. United States Code at Chapter 43, Part III, Title 38.
- USERRA Advisor helps veterans understand employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the Act.
- U.S. Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS). The VETS home page contains an interactive guided program that provides valuable information and answers questions about USERRA.