Sick Leave Fund

You can support a colleague by contributing to the general Sick Leave Fund or by donating hours directly to a specific person. Choose the option that works best for you. 

Option A: Enroll in the Sick Leave Fund To enroll as a contributing member, you must meet all of the following requirements:  

• Have completed the 90-day qualifying period for use of sick leave 

• Maintain a minimum balance of 40 hours of sick leave credits after your contribution 

• Contribute a minimum of 8 sick leave hours to join 

• Continue to contribute 8 sick leave hours annually to remain a member 

After enrolling, HRS will automatically transfer 8 hours from your sick leave balance to the fund each year on March 1, unless you notify HRS in writing that you wish to discontinue membership. You may resign from the fund at any time by notifying HRS in writing and may rejoin later if you meet all eligibility requirements. A minimum fund balance of 400 hours must be maintained. If the fund falls below 400 hours, HRS will request an additional contribution of at least 8 hours from all members. Members who are currently exhausting sick leave due to an extensive illness at the time of the request are not required to contribute additional hours. 

Option B: Make a direct grant to a colleague You do not need to be a Sick Leave Fund member to make a direct grant. To be eligible to donate, you must:  

• Have completed the 90-day qualifying period 

• Maintain a minimum balance of 40 hours of sick leave after the contribution 

• Contribute no more than 40 hours in a 12-month period through direct grants 

The recipient must be absent for at least 10 consecutive working days due to an extensive illness or accident. All direct grant contributions are irrevocable. 

If a serious illness or injury has exhausted all of your leave, you may be eligible to receive donated hours from the general fund or directly from a colleague. Review the eligibility criteria for each option below. 

Option A: Request a grant from the Sick Leave Fund To be eligible to receive sick leave from the general fund pool, you must meet all of the following criteria:  

• Have been a Sick Leave Fund member for at least 90 days 

• Be absent from work for at least 10 consecutive working days due to an extensive illness or accident 

• Have exhausted all personally accrued sick leave, annual leave, and compensatory time 

• Have taken 5 days of leave without pay after exhausting all accrued leave 

• Not be eligible for workers' compensation benefits 

• Provide a physician's certificate documenting your illness or accident to your supervisor 

• Receive approval from your supervisor for a leave of absence 

• Receive approval from your Dean or Director and the Director of Human Resource Services 

The maximum benefit from the fund and direct grants combined is 160 hours in any continuous 12-month period. Meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee approval. If you are incapacitated and unable to apply, another person may apply on your behalf. 

Option B: Request a direct grant from a colleague To receive a direct grant, you do not need to be a fund member, but the same eligibility criteria apply as for a fund grant, with one exception: fund membership for 90 days is not required.  

• Be absent from work for at least 10 consecutive working days due to an extensive illness or accident 

• Have exhausted all personally accrued sick leave, annual leave, and compensatory time 

• Have taken 5 days of leave without pay after exhausting all accrued leave 

• Not be eligible for workers' compensation benefits 

• Provide a physician's certificate to your supervisor 

• Receive approval from your supervisor, Dean or Director, and the Director of Human Resource Services 

A grant may also be requested to provide necessary care for an immediate family member until other care can reasonably be obtained. 

Yes, through a direct grant from a colleague. Direct grants do not require fund membership for either the donor or the recipient. However, to receive a grant from the general Sick Leave Fund pool, you must have been a fund member for at least 90 days.

All contributions to the Sick Leave Fund are voluntary and irrevocable. Hours contributed to the fund or through direct grants cannot be returned to your personal balance and are not included in your termination sick leave payout.

Yes. A grant may be requested to provide necessary care for an immediate family member until other care can reasonably be obtained. The same eligibility criteria apply, including the 10 consecutive working day absence requirement.