Leaves of Absence Without Pay

Staff members may request a leave of absence without pay for compelling personal reasons which may be granted if, in the opinion of the department head, staffing and work load permit. A leave of absence may also be granted during periods of reduced work load when an employee volunteers to take time off without pay, e.g., during the summer, again if the department head approves.

Normally, leave will not be granted for a period exceeding three months. In exceptional cases and subject to the approval of the department head, leave may be extended up to a maximum of one calendar year.

If you are on a leave of absence without pay, you may continue to participate in your health, dental, life and long-term disability insurance plans with the College during the first three months of leave without pay, with the College continuing to pay its share of such benefits. Any employee premiums for these benefits that accrue during your leave of absence will be held in arrears on the payroll system; therefore, you will not receive a bill for them while you are on this unpaid leave, unless you request otherwise. As of your first paycheck after you return to work, a double-the-normal payroll deduction will be withheld for each benefit for which you have accrued an arrears balance, and this double payroll deduction will continue until the arrears have been paid. However, if you are on leave of absence without pay for a period exceeding three months, you may continue to participate in these benefit plans if you make arrangements in advance to pay both the employee and College contribution for the period of leave exceeding three months until the end of the approved leave of absence without pay.

While you are on leave of absence without pay, no retirement plan deductions can be made from your pay since no pay is being earned, nor does the College make any contributions to the plan on your behalf throughout the leave. However, leave does not affect your right to participate in the plan upon your return to work, at which time the College will resume deductions from your pay along with the College contributions to the plan on your behalf.

You may, however, make voluntary contributions to their annuity by sending money directly to our retirement vendor, but these contributions will be on an after-tax basis only.

While you are on leave of absence without pay from the College, you do not continue to accrue vacation or sick leave, nor are you entitled to holiday pay during such leave.

Normally, an employee returning from leave of absence will be returned to the position formerly held if it still exists, but the College cannot guarantee this, especially in the case of an extended leave. However, you may be reinstated to a comparable position. If the same or comparable position in the same department is not available, you will be given preference for assignment elsewhere at the College. If you fail to return to work upon termination of your leave of absence, or if you fail to obtain an extension, your employment will be terminated.

Accepting a position with another employer while on leave of absence will result in forfeiture of the leave of absence and termination of employment at the College. You should be aware of this fact when you apply for leave of absence without pay.

If a leave of absence without pay is granted for illness, the College may require a medical examination by College physicians before you are allowed to return to work.