WVU-HR-26
LEAVES OF ABSENCE POLICY
PURPOSE
To outline the availability and use of the various types of unpaid leaves of absence provided by West Virginia University in accordance with West Virginia Board of Trustees Series 35, WV Board of Trustees Classified Employee Handbook, WV Code 21-5D-9, The WV Parental Leave Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
SCOPE
Except where noted, all full-time regular employees of West Virginia University, including those on the regional campuses, are eligible to apply for an unpaid leave of absence.
POLICY
The University may grant unpaid leaves of absence to help alleviate difficult situations that may arise during an individual’s course of employment. Unpaid leaves of absence require that appropriate leave accruals first be exhausted. Such leaves will not be granted automatically; authorization of an unpaid leave of absence will be based upon the merit of the request, the needs of the University and other relevant factors. Employees will be required to provide timely, appropriate verification for any leave of absence request, initially, to extend and/or to continue the absence. If an employee in a probationary period is approved for a leave of absence, the probationary period will be suspended and reactivated upon his/her return to work. Employees are required to return to work and fulfill the position requirements at the end of the leave of absence.
Absence from work consistent with the provisions of the FMLA will be applied concurrently with qualifying absences due to: on the job injuries/worker’s compensation, parental leave, personal or medical leaves of absence, whether the employee is removed from payroll or compensation is continued via catastrophic, accrued CTO/STO, sick or annual leave. Absence from work consistent with the provisions of the Parental Leave Act will be applied concurrently with qualifying FMLA, personal or medical leaves of absence without pay.
Employees approved for an unpaid leave of absence must contact the Benefits Office to arrange for the payment of benefit plans during their leave. Failure to make the required payment will result in the termination of the plan(s) coverage.
PROCEDURE
Additional information regarding this policy or the proper procedure to follow can be obtained in the Leaves Of Absence procedure.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION
The immediate supervisor, departmental/division administrators (deans/ directors) and appropriate personnel in the Department of Human Resources are responsible for administering this policy. The Medical Management, Benefits and Employee Relations Units in the Department of Human Resources, at 293-5700 or P.O. Box 6640, are available to answer questions or provide additional information regarding this policy.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR INTERPRETATION
The responsibility for interpretation of this policy rests with the Director of Human Resources, West Virginia University.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 10, 1998
APPROVED BY: Scott C. Kelley, Vice President
