This communication is to inform the campus of recent Expanded Sick Leave as it relates to the Protected Sick Leave option made available to all staff and student employees. 

 

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Campus Communications emailed a notice to UCR Faculty and Staff informing the campus that expanded paid sick leave would start  on January 1, 2025. Expand Sick Leave allows for  “protected sick leave” so that an employee may take the leave for a qualifying reason.

Qualifying Reasons Include

Paid sick leave may be designated as “protected” under policies for staff and student employees when it is taken under certain circumstances defined in policy.

Policy Definition

Employees may designate paid sick leave as protected for the following reasons:

•    The diagnosis, care, or treatment of an existing physical or mental health condition of the employee or the employee’s family member;

•    Preventive care for an employee or an employee’s family member; or

•    Those reasons specified in policy for an employee who is a victim or whose family member is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other qualifying acts of violence.

The University prohibits any form of retaliation or discrimination against an employee for using or attempting to use paid sick leave designated as protected and for any other reason prohibited by policy.

Procedures

A local procedure was created to provide instructions to staff and student employees, to make them aware of the policy, ensure they know how to use the protected sick leave, and how to code it into the Time and Attendance Reporting System (TARS). Review the local procedure for additional instructions.

 

If you have questions about the procedure(s), send an email to: hrpolicy@ucr.edu.