Leave of Absence Programs
UNLV offers leave of absence programs that permit employees to take authorized time off for personal, medical, or family reasons, in accordance with federal or state regulations. Note: Leave programs may run concurrently with one another or other employee leave entitlements.
Available Programs
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The FMLA entitles eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave.
Eligible employees are entitled to:
- Twelve work weeks of leave in a 12-month period for:
- the birth of a child and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth;
- the placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement;
- to care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition;
- a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job;
- any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a covered military member on “covered active duty;” or
- Twenty-six work weeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered servicemember with a serious injury or illness if the eligible employee is the service member’s spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin (military caregiver leave).
An employee does not need to use leave in one block. When it is medically necessary or otherwise permitted, employees may take leave intermittently or on a reduced schedule.
Full-time and part-time employees who have:
- Been employed for at least one academic year or 12 months (which do not need to be consecutive) prior to the start of leave; and
- Worked a minimum of 1,250 hours during the 12 months immediately preceding the start of leave. Employment at any NSHE institution counts toward this requirement.
Employee Requirements
- Must provide 30 days advance notice for foreseeable leave.
- When 30 days notice is not possible, the employee must give notice to the employer by the next business day after they learn of the need for leave, unless impracticable to do so.
Manager/Supervisor Requirements
- The employer must follow up if an employee indicates that they need time off for a reason that may qualify under FMLA.
- If you think an employee may need time off under FMLA*, contact Absence Management immediately - even if the employee doesn’t specifically mention FML. This may include things like what the employee says, information from a family member, knowing about a hospital stay, or the employee being out sick for more than three (3) days.
* FML leave depends on eligibility. Absence Management receives notification via Workday following a three (3) day absence.
- Step 1: Inform Absence Management of the need for FML by emailing hrleave@unlv.edu
- Step 2: Once notified, Absence Management will inform you of your eligibility status, provide relevant information, and address any additional questions you may have.
- Step 3: If you are eligible, Absence Management will provide you with an FML packet. Carefully review the required information needed for Absence Management to process your leave request. You packet will include:
- Notice of Eligibility & Rights and Responsibility
- Certification of Healthcare Provider for a Serious Health Condition. If your leave request is due to your medical condition or the medical condition of your family member, the healthcare provider must certify that it qualifies as a “serious health condition.”
- State of Nevada - FMLA Leave of Absence Form (NPD-60)
- Your responsibilities during your leave
- Return to work requirements
- Step 4: Submit the required forms to Absence Management for review prior to the deadline. Do not submit the forms to your department.
- Step 5: Upon receipt of the required forms, Absence Management will review and inform you within 3-5 business days, if FMLA is applicable.
Note to Managers/Supervisors: Absence Management will also send you a designation notice with key details about the employee's leave, which is especially important for intermittent leave. You are responsible for making sure the employee uses the leave according to what was approved.
Do not ask the employee about their medical condition or that of a family member. If the employee chooses to share this information, do not repeat it or share it with others. If someone asks about the employee’s absence, simply say they are on leave.
Nevada Paid Family Leave (NPFL)
NPFL entitles eligible employees to take up to eight (8) weeks of paid family leave at 50% of their regular wage over a 12-month period to:
- Bond with a newborn child of the employee or a newborn child of the domestic partner of the employee;
- Bond with a newly adopted child of the employee;
- Recover from or undergo treatment for a serious illness;
- Care for a seriously ill member of the immediate family of the employee; or
- Participate in a qualifying event resulting from the military deployment to a foreign country of an immediate family member of the employee.
Requesting NPFL
Contact Absence Management to request leave. For more information, including the forms to request NPFL, visit the State of Nevada website.
Bereavement Leave
Bereavement leave provides employees with paid time off following the death of a family member.
| Academic and Administrative Faculty | Classified Employees | |
|---|---|---|
|
Leave Benefit |
Up to 10 working days of sick leave. |
Up to 5 working days of sick leave. |
| Family Member Definition | Family members, in-laws, or step relatives within the third degree of relationship | Family members, in-laws, or step relatives within the third degree of relationship |
| Approval Requirement |
Appointing authority |
Appointing authority |
Requesting Bereavement Leave
Enter your request in Workday’s Time Off portal using the 'bereavement' leave code. Refer to the Request Leave of Absence Workday Job Aid for step-by-step guidance.
Catastrophic Leave
Catastrophic leave entitles eligible classified employees up to 240 hours paid leave from the general catastrophic leave bank during a rolling 12-month period when:
- You or a member of your family experiences a catastrophe; and
- You have exhausted all available leave (accrued sick time, annual leave, and compensatory time.)
The rolling 12-month period is measured backwards from the date an employee uses catastrophic leave. Limiting the use of catastrophic leave from the general bank ensures leave is available for all who need it. Up to 800 hours additional hours may be used if donated specifically for that employee’s use (NRS 284.3622).
- Only classified employees are eligible to request or donate leave.
- To qualify as a catastrophe, the absence must be for convalescence expected to last a minimum of 10 weeks or a condition for which a health care provider has determined there is a substantial risk of death (NAC 284.575 ).
- To receive catastrophic leave donations, you must get approval from your appointing authority or the Committee on Catastrophic Leave.
To apply for the use of catastrophic leave:
- Contact Absence Management for guidance and support
- Complete the Request to Receive Catastrophic Leave Donations form (PAY-23)
- Additional forms may be required
To donate leave:
- Complete the (Catastrophic) Notice of Intent to Donate form (NPD 25).
- Obtain approval from your supervisor and appointing authority
- Ensure form is reviewed by your departmental leave keeper
- Submit approved and reviewed form to hrleave@unlv.edu
- Balances are then transferred to the catastrophic leave bank or earmarked for the use of an individual
Classified employees may donate up to a maximum of 120 hours of annual leave or sick leave in any calendar year to:
- The catastrophic leave bank, or
- To a fellow employee who has been approved for catastrophic leave.
You are not permitted to donate time if your own sick leave balance will fall below 240 hours as a result of the donation.
Jury Duty
UNLV grants paid leave for serving on a jury or as a court witness (NAC 284.582). First, notify your supervisor. Then, submit a leave request in Workday. Use the code Civil Leave and write Jury Duty in the Notes section.
Civil Leave (Voting)
UNLV grants all employees paid time off to vote. The amount of time you receive to vote depends on the distance between the polling place and the university (NRS 293.463).
Military Leave
Employees who are members of Federal Reserve forces or the Nevada National Guard are entitled to serve without loss of regular compensation (leave with pay) for a period not to exceed 15 working days in any calendar year. Additional military leave may be granted for periods in excess of 15 working days. (NRS 281.145)
Administrative Leave for New Veteran Employees
Employees who are veterans are granted up to 96 hours of administrative leave with pay for the first 12 months of their employment, for certain reasons (NAC 284.589).
Resources
Federal and State Resources
Contact Us
If you have questions about your benefits, contact your benefits specialist or request an appointment.
Phone: 702-895-3504
Fax: 702-895-1545
Email: hrleave@unlv.edu
The information included on this website is informational only. In the event that the content on this site or any oral or written representations made by any person regarding benefits conflicts with or are inconsistent with the provisions of the plan documents or other governing authority, the provisions of the plan document or governing authority will always prevail.