Types of Leave

The University offers bereavement time away to support employees experiencing a significant personal loss due to the death of an immediate family member. Bereavement leave allows you to:

1. Attend funeral services, ceremonies, and interment
2. Make necessary arrangements, including travel if necessary
3. Serve as a pallbearer

Be sure to review your employee group governance document or the Bereavement Leave for Faculty and P&A Staff Administrative Policy for more information about bereavement leave.

Court appearance and civic duty leave allows employees to take a paid absence from work for:

1. Testifying before a court or legislative committee on matters concerning federal or state government, the University, or when called to testify as an expert
2. Serving on a jury
3. Voting in any state-held general election, primary special election, and special primary
4. Serving as a precinct election judge
5. Short times away due to military commitments

Employees who are victims of certain crimes are provided unpaid personal leave in accordance with, and as defined by, law.

Refer to the Military, Court Appearance, or Civic Duty Leaves Administrative Policy and your employee group governance document to find details about each leave and procedures for requesting leave.

The University supports a culture of excellence and is committed to providing its employees with opportunities to participate in professional development, education, and training activities. The University provides employees with time away from work to attend these activities.

Refer to the Employee Development, Education, and Training policy and your employee group governance document for details.

The Family and Medical Leave Act is a federal law that ensures an employee’s right to take reasonable leave for certain family and medical reasons. Although FMLA leave is unpaid, the law ensures that you can keep your health insurance while you are away and that you will have the same or equal job and pay when you return.

FMLA allows you to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave within a year for such things as the birth or adoption of a child, a family member's military duty, or a serious illness or injury to you or an immediate family member. It also allows up to 26 weeks to care for a covered military service member with a serious injury or illness.

You don't have to take all your FMLA leave at once. You can take it intermittently or as part of a reduced work schedule if medically necessary.

You can learn more from the University's Family and Medical—FMLA Leave policy and the Department of Labor’s frequently asked questions, including what absences are covered, eligibility, advance notice and required documentation, and more.

Pay and Benefits While on an FMLA-covered Absence

FMLA does not provide paid leave. But if you are eligible, you are required to use the balance of your sick, comp, and vacation time (down to 80hrs); parental leave (if applicable); or other paid leave of absence while you're on FMLA leave.

The University will pay the employer portion of health benefits coverage during an FMLA leave. You are responsible for paying your portion of health insurance, along with any extra premiums to cover family members, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, parking fees, or other payroll deductions.

If you are using paid leave such as vacation or sick time during FMLA, your portion of health insurance will be automatically deducted from your paycheck as usual. However, if your paid leave runs out while you are still on FMLA leave, you will need to make arrangements to continue paying your portion of benefits.

An employee on an unpaid leave will receive a letter with information on continuation of benefits. You should follow the instructions in the letter to indicate what benefits coverage you want to continue. You will then be emailed a bill from Accounts Receivable showing how much your benefits coverage will cost.

The Family and Medical Leave Act, or FMLA, is a federal law that allows you up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave per fiscal year. For more information, see the Family and Medical Leave Act section above.

Additionally, eligible faculty members and academic professional and administrative (P&A) employees are provided medical leave for the treatment of themselves, their dependent children, and their immediate family members. Learn more in the University’s Paid Medical Leave and Disability Benefits for Faculty and Academic Professional and Administrative Employees policy.

Military duty leaves allow employees to be absent from work for longer periods to fulfill military service activities. 

Refer to the Military, Court Appearance, or Civic Duty Leaves Administrative Policy and your employee group governance document to find details about each leave and procedures for requesting military leave.

Starting January 1, 2026, Minnesota's Paid Leave program will require employers to provide paid leave to employees working in Minnesota. Paid leave benefits will be calculated based on an employee’s weekly pay. This leave also includes job protection for those who need time off for specific situations.

Learn more and stay up to date on the program’s implementation by visiting the Minnesota Paid Leave page.

Upon request, eligible employees may take six weeks of continuous paid leave related to the birth, adoption, or gestational surrogacy of a child.

Details about who is eligible for parental leave and other requirements are outlined in your employee group governance document or the Parental Leave for Employees Administrative Policy.

If you are eligible for FMLA, that will run concurrently with parental leave.

The University offers unpaid personal leave to support eligible employees who need time away from work to attend to matters that affect their lives that are unrelated to their career at the University and that significantly interfere with their ability to meet their University work responsibilities.

Refer to your employee group governance document or the Administrative Policy for Unpaid Personal Leaves for Faculty and P&A Employees for details about this type of leave, including procedures for requesting a personal leave of absence.

Pregnancy and Parental Leave is a state law that allows you up to 12 weeks of continuous, unpaid, job-protected leave. Any employee becoming a parent can take this leave within 12 months of the birth or adoption.

If you are FMLA eligible, the leaves will run concurrently and can not be used one after another.

Similar to FMLA, you will remain eligible for your benefits as long as you pay your portion of the premium.

School conference and activity leave provides you with 16 hours of unpaid leave each year to attend your child’s school conferences or classroom activities.

You may be able to substitute this unpaid time with vacation or compensatory time, but be sure to read your employee group governance document or the Administrative Policy for Unpaid Personal Leaves for Faculty and P&A Employees for the complete terms of this type of leave.