Leaves

Leave Decision Overview for Supervisors

Introduction

Regular and dependable employee attendance is a critical performance factor. Employees juggle many responsibilities and occasionally, those responsibilities require time away from work. As a manager/supervisor, you will receive absence and leave requests from employees and will have to assess those requests within your operational needs and University policies.

This page serves as an evaluation tool to help you evaluate leave requests by using University policies and posing questions about the effect of absences/leaves on the operation of the work unit.

For consultation on more complex and unusual absence/leave requests, please call your assigned Senior HR Partner. For questions on leave processing, contact HR Solutions.

My employee requested leave, what's next?

Begin by gathering information about the request so that you can determine your employee's needs and what policies apply to the situation. Questions you might ask:

  • Why does your employee need the absence or leave?
    If the reason is due to an illness/medical condition (including caring for a specific family member with an illness/medical condition), you can clarify whether the absence/leave is recommended by a health care provider; however, avoid discussing any specific medical condition information. If absence/leave is for a work-related illness or injury, see procedures for the worker's compensation process in addition to the use of this evaluation tool.
  • What are the absence or leave dates of your employee's request?
    Is it one period (continuous) or several dates (intermittent)? You can require specific dates, even if tentative.
  • When will your employee return to work?
    You can seek assurance that your employee intends to return to work at the end of the absence/leave and if there will be any restrictions on performance, duties and/or work schedule. You can ask your employee to provide a release from a health care provider before returning to work.

With the information you have available, use the following evaluation tool to eliminate or affirm what absence/leave is under consideration and your options or next step. Note that all absence/leave decisions start with an evaluation against the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act. As a requirement by law, the University strives to apply Family and Medical Leave to all applicable situations and you, as a supervisor, are the key to maintaining federal compliance.

Information on Specific Leaves

Information on specific leaves can be found under Employee/Leaves including:

  • Approved Extended Leave
  • Approved Personal Leave
  • Bereavement
  • Compassionate Transfer of Leave
  • Extended Active Military Leave
  • Holidays
  • Jury Duty
  • Military Leave
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Paid Sick Time
  • Prestigious Awards Leave - Appointed Personnel
  • Sabbatical Leave - Appointed Personnel
  • University Winter Closure
  • Vacation