This section provides an overview of time off and extended leaves of absence options at UVM. Your collective bargaining agreement or employee handbook will have the most specific and relevant information to you. If you have questions about time off or leave, please email HRInfo@uvm.edu.
Time Off
UVM Administrative Closures
UVM offers generous paid time off for holidays and administrative closures for eligible employees, including two days at Thanksgiving and a long winter break in December.
Employees that must work on a holiday will be compensated according to their employee handbook or contract.
Paid Time Off
In addition to paid time off for holidays and administrative closures, staff accrue Paid Time Off (PTO). PTO combines time off for vacation, personal days, and cultural holidays into a single program, allowing employees flexibility in the use of their paid time off. Staff members accrue PTO at rates based on years of service and full-time or part-time status.
Years of Employment | PTO Days Accrued Annually (FT Staff) |
|---|---|
0-5 | 20 |
5-10 | 25 |
10-20 | 27 |
20+ | 30 |
Paid Sick Leave
Staff paid sick leave for staff is earned on a monthly basis and may be used in situations where an employee is absent from work due to illness, injury, or to care for a member of their immediate family who is ill.
Full-time employees accrue 12 sick leave days per year with unlimited accrual. Employees working less than full-time will accrue sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
Employees who are absent from work for more than five consecutive workdays may be required to provide a physician’s statement indicating the reason for the absence.
Additional Time Off
UVM offers additional paid time off for certain circumstances, including bereavement, jury duty, military service, community service, and attending Town Meeting Day.
Please note: If missing work due to jury duty or long-term military leave, you must complete the Leave of Absence Request Form (PDF)
Extended Leaves
Paid Parental Leave
Eligible staff will receive eight weeks of paid parental leave for the following reasons:
- The birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care; or
- To bond with a child within one year of the child's birth or placement.
Faculty paid parental leave may be dependent on rank and years of service. Please consult your CBA or handbook for more information.
Things to know
- Paid parental leave starts at the birth of a baby and must be used consecutively, unless an employee intends to go on short-term disability.
- Paid parental leave runs concurrently with FMLA.
- After paid parental leave and any short-term disability benefits are exhausted, any remaining FMLA leave will be compensated through PTO or unpaid.
Educational and Professional Development Leave
Our commitment to education extends to our employees with paid time off provided for eligible faculty and staff for time away from work for professional development. Types and durations of leaves vary and can span from two weeks to two months, or longer. Consult with applicable handbook or contract for specifics.
Personal Leave
All regular staff members with an FTE of 50% or more are eligible to apply for a Personal Leave of Absence without pay for up to one year. Requests for Personal Leave shall be made to the employee’s supervisor. No leave of absence will be approved unless there is a reasonable expectation that the employee’s position will be available upon the employee’s return.
Ordinarily, a personal leave is not granted for more than one year. If the employee needs more than one year, additional leave must be requested at least one month before the end of their original one-year leave. During an unpaid personal leave, the employee may continue their UVM insurance plans, but they must cover the full cost.
Generally, a personal leave may not be taken during the probationary period, but if such a leave is granted, probation may be extended by the length of the employee’s leave.
Medical Leave
If employees are absent or expect to be absent for more than 10 days, they must request a medical leave from their supervisor. Medical Leave can last for up to 26 weeks, can be either paid or unpaid, and an employee's insurance programs will continue throughout this timeframe.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides eligible employees with job protected leave for qualifying family and medical reasons. You can take up to 12 weeks (450 hours for positions that are 37.5 hours/week, or 480 hours for 40 positions that are 40 hours/week) of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. It also requires that your group health benefits be maintained during the leave. Employees who use FMLA leave have the right to go back to work at their same job or to an equivalent job that has the same pay, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment at the end of their FMLA leave.
In some instances, FMLA can be taken intermittently (in blocks of time) or on a reduced leave schedule (reducing daily or weekly hours worked).
Voluntary Benefits
Short-Term Disability
Eligible employees may elect Voluntary Short-Term Disability, which provides 70% of your salary if you are unable to work due to a medically qualified, non-work-related injury or illness which prevents you from working for up to a maximum of six months.
Long-Term Disability
Eligible employees may enroll in the Long-Term Disability plan for income and benefit protections in the event they become totally disabled as defined by the plan and unable to work for a period of greater than six months. Long term disability provides either 60 or 70% of monthly income, depending on the plan selected.
Disability Insurance
Leave Process
For Employees
If you are considering or planning for a leave, get in contact with your supervisor and they will support you through the process. Your supervisor is federally required to send the Eligibility, Rights, and Responsibilities notice within five days of this conversation, regardless of your decision to take leave. Depending on the type of leave you are taking, you may be required to submit a request form and additional documentation.
Leave processes are supported by the Leave & Compliance Manager. For assistance with the planning process and paperwork, please email UVM's Leave and Compliance Manger (diane.gaboriault@uvm.edu).
Forms
- Leave of Absence Request Form (PDF) should be filled out by employees taking the following types of leave:
- Paid and unpaid medical leave
- Personal leave
- Parental leave
- Educational & professional development leave
- Jury duty
- Long-term military leave
- Parental Leave Request - Represented Faculty (PDF) should be filled out along with the Leave of Absence form by represented faculty wishing to take parental leave.
For Supervisors
If you are a supervisor overseeing an employee's leave request and implementation, visit the Hiring & Management Resources for appropriate forms and information.
Getting ready for a new addition to your family?
If you're expanding your family through a birth, foster, or adoption - or have recently done so - UVM has resources for you at every stage of growing your family.
Growing your Family