Leave Time
Family Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law which helps employees balance their work responsibilities with their family and medical needs. It is expected that employers and employees alike will benefit since there is a documented correlation between family stability, increased job satisfaction, reduced absenteeism and tardiness among workers.
The Act requires that eligible employees be allowed to take unpaid leave, or paid leave if earned, for a period of up to 12 work weeks in any 12-month period in the event of the birth of a child or the placement of a child for adoption or foster care; because the employee is needed to care for a family member with a serious health condition; or because an employee’s own serious health condition makes them unable to do their job. The Act provides for this leave to be taken intermittently, or the employee may work a reduced schedule, when such arrangements meet the medical necessity of the employee.
Visit the Human Resources website for more information and frequently asked questions.
Human Resources
(517) 884-0131
www.hr.msu.edu/
Staff Leave Time
Sick Leave
Regular support staff are eligible to accrue paid time off for illness. Employees who are paid bi-weekly accumulate 4 hours of sick leave each pay period. Employees who are paid monthly accumulate 8 hours of sick leave each pay period, and receive 12 hours for two months of the year. This time is credited at the end of each month.
Family Sick Leave
Regular support staff may use accrued paid sick leave credits to care for a member of the employee’s immediate family or household who is ill. See the website for the number of hours available to employees based on union contracts, and review union contracts for specific definitions of immediate family and member of household.
Personal Leave
Regular full-time support staff receive 24 hours of paid time per fiscal year to attend to personal matters. Regular three-quarter time support staff receive 18 hours and regular half time support staff receive 12 hours. This time does not carry over to the next year. Employees hired or changed to regular status of half time or more during the fiscal year will be credited with personal leave of 24 hours if hired July through December 31. They will receive 12 hours if hired January 1 through March 31, and 6 hours if hired April 1 through May 31. No personal leave is granted to those hired between June 1 and June 30. Personal leave must be used in increments of one hour.
MSU Employment Office
110 Nisbet Building
(517) 353-3720
www.hr.msu.edu
Faculty Leave Time
Short-Term Disability
Medical Leave
Faculty and academic staff who are appointed for 50 percent time or more for nine months or more are eligible for up to six months of paid leave if health problems prevent working. Short term disability leave related to pregnancy, childbirth and/or recovery is for six weeks, but may be longer with proper medical certification.
Parental Leave
Faculty and academic staff who are appointed for 50 percent time or more for nine months or more are eligible to receive up to six (6) weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth of a child. Faculty and academic staff who adopt a child younger than age six and/or not attending school full-time are eligible to receive up to six (6) weeks of paid parental leave.
In situations where the University employs both parents of a newborn/adopted child as faculty/academic staff, a combined maximum of six (6) weeks of paid parental leave is available under this policy.
Additional unpaid leave may be available for the birth of a child or the placement of a child for adoption or foster care in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Policy and/or the policy regarding Leaves of Absence Without Pay for faculty and academic staff.
Academic Human Resources
(517) 355-1526
www.hr.msu.edu
Extension of the Tenure System Probationary Appointment
The tenure system probationary appointment is extended automatically for one year for the following reasons:
• Leaves of absence with or without pay that are six to twelve months
• Changes in appointment to 50% time or less for one year
• Upon request from a faculty member on approved leave of absence (paid or unpaid) for twelve weeks or longer for reasons related to the birth or adoption of a child. Automatic extensions for this reason are limited to two separate one-year extensions
• Immigration/visa status that does not permit the award of tenure for candidates who have been recommended for tenure
• An extension recommended as an outcome of a hearing and/or appeal conducted pursuant to the Faculty Grievance Procedure
Extension of the probationary appointment may be requested from the University Committee on Faculty Tenure for reasons related to childbirth, adoption, the care of an ill and/or disabled child, spouse, or parent; personal illness, to receive prestigious awards, fellowships, and/or special assignment opportunities, or other such constraints.
The procedure for requesting an extension of the probationary tenure system appointment is included in the statement on Implementation Practices (Stopping the Tenure Clock) in the Faculty Handbook available at the HR website.