Medical Leave
Eligibility
An eligible employee will need to have worked for the State of Washington for at least 12 months and worked at least 1,250 hours in the 12 months immediately preceding their period of leave.
Not eligible for the FMLA? See Disability Leave or Family Care Leave.
Use of Accrued Leave
The FMLA is unpaid leave. You may however choose to take either paid leave based on your leave accruals or unpaid leave. An employee may move in and out of pay status while on FMLA leave.
Benefits while on leave
Employer paid medical benefits will remain effective during the FMLA period as long as the employee pays their monthly employee premiums. If an employee chooses unpaid FMLA, the University will continue to pay the employer portion of benefits and the employee will be billed for their share of the benefits cost.
To Apply
Submit a Leave of Absence (LOA) in Workday. See Workday Knowledge base reference guide Employee Request a Leave of Absence.
Have your health care provider or the Health Care Provider of the individual you will be caring for complete the Health Care Provider Statement. Or in the case of Bonding /Parental Leave, employees only need to provide reasonable documentation of a family relationship (such as birth announcement or certificate, placement documentation),
Send the completed Health Care Provider certification to Human Resource Services – Disability Services (not your department).
In Workday: Employees who have applied and are approved for a LOA, will see the approved LOA “designation” on their Absence Calendar for the duration of the LOA, whether it be needed on a full-time part-time or intermittent time off basis. This designation allows a person on the designated leave(s) to have access to and utilize time offs specific to that LOA designation.
Please note, in some circumstances WSU cannot allow an employee to return to work from a period of medical leave without the release of their Health Care Provider. Prior to an employee’s return to work they should complete and submit the Work Assessment / Return to Work form available on the Forms page.
Resources
- Family Medical Leave Act of 1993
- BPPM 60.56, Faculty and Administrative Professional Personnel Leave
- BPPM 60.57, Civil Service Leave
- L&I Protected Leave Laws
Questions? Contact Disability Services.
Family Care Leave
Overview and Entitlements
Eligibility
Use of Accrued Leave
To Apply
Resources
Overview
Under the Washington State Family Care Act (RCW 49.12.270), employees are eligible to use available sick leave and other paid leave as Family Care Leave (FCL). This leave is generally used when an employee is not eligible for FMLA leave or their family member does not qualify under FMLA. Under the law, an employee is entitled to use any or all of their choice of sick or other paid leave to care for a child with a health condition requiring treatment or supervision including preventative health care; a spouse, parent, parent-in-law, registered domestic partner, or grandparent with a serious or emergency health condition; and an adult child with a disability.
Eligibility
WSU employees with accrued leave are eligible for FCL.
Use of Accrued Leave
Employees may use accrued sick leave, annual leave, compensatory time, or personal holiday. An employee may not use Leave Without Pay under this provision. Leave may be taken on a full-time, part-time or intermittent basis.
To Apply
Request a Leave of Absence in Workday. See Workday Knowledge base reference guide Employee Request a Leave of Absence. The health care provider continues to complete the Health Care Provider Statement.
In Workday: Employees who have applied and are approved for a LOA, will see the approved LOA “designation” on their Absence Calendar for the duration of the LOA, whether it be needed on a full-time part-time or intermittent time off basis. This designation allows a person on the designated leave(s) to have access to and utilize time offs specific to that LOA designation.
Resources
- Washington Family Care Act
- Revised Code of Washington 49.12.265 through 49.12.295
- Family Care Rules, WAC 296-130
Questions? Contact Disability Services.
Disability Leave
Overview and Entitlements
Eligibility
Use of Accrued Leave
To Apply
Resources
Overview
Under WSU leave provisions (BPPM 60.56 Faculty and Administrative Professional Personnel Leave and 60.57 Civil Service Leave) employees who are unable to perform their job duties because they are disabled may be provided up to four months of Disability Leave as identified by their medical provider. Disability Leave may only be taken on a full-time basis.
Eligibility
Civil Service, Administrative Professional and Faculty employees are eligible for Disability Leave. Bargaining unit employees are to refer to the appropriate collective bargaining agreements.
Use of Accrued Leave
Employees may use accrued sick leave, annual leave, compensatory time, personal holiday and leave without pay. An employee is allowed to use a minimum of eight hours of accrued paid leave per month during Disability Leave to provide for continuation of employer paid benefits. The eight hours paid leave must be used on the first working day of the month.
If the Disability Leave is taken due to pregnancy or childbirth, an employee may move in and out of pay status within the month.
If the Disability Leave is not related to pregnancy or childbirth an employee may not move in an out of paid status.
To Apply
To apply for Disability Leave, request a Leave of Absence in Workday. See Workday Knowledge base reference guide Employee Request a Leave of Absence. The health care provider continues to complete the Health Care Provider Statement.
In Workday: Employees who have applied and are approved for a LOA, will see the approved LOA “designation” on their Absence Calendar for the duration of the LOA, whether it be needed on a full-time part-time or intermittent time off basis. This designation allows a person on the designated leave(s) to have access to and utilize time offs specific to that LOA designation.
Resources
Questions? Contact Disability Services.