Click For Home Page
 

Personal or Family Needs

Back to Main List

When and How Benefits Apply?    

If you a full-time staff employee and would like to take a leave of absence for personal or family needs of a serious and urgent nature, you can apply for the Personal Leave of Absence benefit. Please refer to the following chart and the personal leave of absence policy to learn when and how these benefits apply. (To read  the policy, please click on the policy name.) Please note: Leaves of absence for full-time faculty are governed by the DePaul University Faculty Handbook.

Policy:

Personal Leave of Absence

Eligibility:

  • All full-time staff with DePaul
  • Must have at least 6 month of continuous full-time service and are performing satisfactorily.
  • Must not have been on a "Performance Improvement Plan" or have received final written counseling at any time during the 12 months prior to the date of leave request
  • Subject to approval by your manager and HR. Employee has submitted Leave of Absence Request Form
  • Leaves of Absence for full-time faculty are governed by the DePaul University Faculty Handbook

Benefit:

  • Up to 3 months off without pay
  • You can not use vacation or sick pay during a Personal Leave of Absence

Duration:

Maximum of 3 consecutive months. Must be taken in one consecutive block in time. No more than one (1) leave may be taken during a fixed 12-month period beginning with the first day of an approved personal leave of absence.  No more than three (3) months of leave may be taken during a five (5) year period beginning within the first year in which an approved leave of absence is taken.

Start Date:

On first day of absence agreed upon by employee, manager, and HR



What are the Initial Steps?    

What should I do first?

Thirty days prior to your intended leave or (in the event of an unforeseen emergency as early as possible), contact your manager and DePaul’s HR Benefits department at 312-362-8232 and request your leave of absence.

What forms do I need to submit before leaving?


What happens to my Salary?    

Is the leave paid?

No.


What happens to my Benefits?    

Coverage under the following university benefit plans may continue during while receiving vacation pay if you were covered on the day the absence began and employee contributions (where applicable) are paid:

  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision Care
  • Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment
  • Short- and Long-Term Disability
  • Adoption Assistance
  • Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan Contributions
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Transportation Program Deductions
  • Health Savings Account Contributions
  • Sick Time
  • Vacation Time

During Unpaid Leave

An employee on Personal Leave is not eligible to receive pay under any of the university policies for sick pay, short-term disability or vacation. Therefore, if you wish to continue benefits participation you are responsible for paying the employee contribution amount for those benefits that require an employee contribution. This can be done on an after-tax basis by personal check and forwarding such payment to the Human Resources department, by arranging pre-payment via pre-tax (if appropriate) deductions prior to the leave or by retroactive payment of premium on a pre-tax (if appropriate) basis after returning to active employment.

Retirement plan contributions and Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions will be suspended during an unpaid FMLA leave. An employee may make Health Savings Account post-tax contributions directly to his or her HSA account. Upon an employee’s return from unpaid leave, contributions that have been suspended by Human Resources will re-start automatically.

If you choose to discontinue any benefits while on leave, you may need to re-enroll upon your return to work.  Contact HR for more information.

Vacation and Sick Time

During a Personal Leave of Absence sick pay and vacation pay are not available. Vacation and sick time do not accrue during a Personal Leave of Absence.


While I am out...    

What happens if a performance review or salary increase is scheduled during the time I am on leave?

If you are on an unpaid Personal Leave of Absence, the review and/or increase will be postponed until you have returned to work.

What do I need to do during my absence from work?

Stay in touch with your manager and DePaul's HR benefits department, notify them of any changes in your expected return date.


When I return...    

Is any documentation needed in order to return to work?

No, but you should notify your manager one week prior to returning to work.

What will happen if I do not return to work when my leave time has expired?

Failure to return may result in termination of employment


Print Friendly

Quick Reference – To Do List    

30 days prior to leave date

  • Notify manager and DePaul HR Benefits Department of leave plans
  • Submit completed Leave of Absence Request form to Human Resources
  • When leave is approved, call HR Benefits at 312-362-8232 to make arrangements for paying employee benefits premiums

During absence

  • Maintain contact with manager
  • Pay benefit premiums (if applicable)

Two weeks prior to return

  • Contact manager and inform of plans to return to work