Leave of Absence

San Francisco State University values enabling its eligible employees the opportunity to achieve a work-life harmony through various Leave of Absence Programs.

An employee should provide at least a 30-day notice to the campus before the commencement of any paid or unpaid leave; however, if the leave must begin in less than 30 days, the employee must provide as much notice as possible. An employee should complete a Leave of Absence Request Form. After all department signatures are acquired, the form is submitted to Human Resources Management for approval. Employees are advised to meet with Benefits prior to taking a medical/disability leave, and physician certification of disability is required.

To learn more, use Leave Requests Procedures

 

Various Paid Leaves of Absence
Leave Type Description
Bereavement/Funeral Leave Bereavement leave is granted upon the death of an immediate family member or a “significantly close relative” as defined by University Policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Refer to the collective bargaining agreement for the number of bereavement days allowed.
More information about Bereavement/Funeral Leave
Catastrophic Leave

The Catastrophic Leave Donation Program (CLDP) allows employees to donate and receive vacation and sick leave credits to University employees.

An employee who has a catastrophic illness or injury and has exhausted all accumulated leave credits may apply to the program and can normally use up to three (3) months of donated hours for regular pay. The CLDP program also allows participation in the program if an employee needs to be absent from work due to a catastrophic illness or injury of an immediate family member.

More Information about Catastrophic Leave 

Industrial Disability Leave The Industrial Disability Leave (IDL) Program is a salary continuation program, in lieu of workers' compensation temporary disability (TD) benefits, for CSU employees who are CalPERS members and who have suffered a work-related injury or illness.

More Information about Industrial Disability Leave

Jury Duty

Employees are granted time to serve on jury duty. Employees will receive a full salary while absent to perform jury duty provided the University is reimbursed for monies employees receive for serving as jurors. (Unlimited days allowed).

More Information about Jury Duty

Non-Industrial Disability Leave Non-industrial Disability Insurance (NDI) is a wage continuation program paid for by the state. There are no employee contributions, enrollment fees or medical examinations required in order to be eligible. NDI provides up to 26 weeks of benefits to eligible employees who are unable to work due to a non-work-related illness or injury including pregnancy. This plan is in lieu of State Disability Insurance (SDI) benefit that is also administered through the Employment Development Department.

More Information about Non-Industrial Disability Leave

Organ Donor Leave The Organ Donor Leave (ODL) Program, in accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 1825, allows CSU employees, who have exhausted all available sick leave, to take a paid leave of absence of up to 30 continuous calendar days in any one-year period when donating his or her organ to another person or a paid leave of absence of up to five continuous calendar days in any one-year period when donating his or her bone marrow to another person.

More Information about Organ Donor Leave

Military Leave 

Emergency, temporary and indefinite military leaves are provided in compliance with federal and state regulations and collective bargaining provisions. To request the use of military leave, contact the Human Resources Employment Services unit.

More Information about Military Leave 

Sick leave

Employees with accrued sick leave credits may take paid time off when they are ill or need to care for a family member who is ill.

More Information about Sick leave

Various Unpaid Leaves of Absence
Leave Type Description
Family Medical Leave The CSU provides Family Medical Leave (FML) to eligible employees in accordance with the Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and Collective Bargaining Unit Agreements. FMLA and CFRA leave entitlements in most cases run concurrently. 
Pregnancy Disability Leave If a female employee is disabled by pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition, she is entitled under California Government Code Section 12945 (b) (2) to take a pregnancy disability leave.

 

Learn how your benefits will be affected when you take an unpaid leave of absence.

Your benefits will change according to the length of your leave. The chart below summarizes these changes.

If you continue coverage during your leave and your payments are delinquent more than 30 days, your coverage will be canceled, and you will be offered coverage under the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).

 

Benefits Eligibility during Leave of Absence
Plan Leave of Less Than Three Months Leave of Three Months or Greater
Health You must continue your coverage. Contributions will be deducted upon your return to pay status.

You may continue or cancel your coverage. If you continue coverage and do not return the Continuing Benefits Form, you will be billed automatically. If you cancel coverage, it will not be reinstated automatically. You have 31 days following your return to SF State to re-enroll.

If you belong to the SF State Traditional Plan and you reside outside the plan's enrollment area for more than three months, you must transfer to the SF State Choice Plan to maintain health coverage through SF State. When you return to the enrollment area, you may re-enroll for coverage under the SF State Traditional Plan as long as you re-enroll within 31 days of your return to SF State.

Dental You must continue your coverage. Contributions will be deducted upon your return to pay status. You may continue or cancel your coverage. If you continue coverage and do not return the Continuing Benefits Form, you will be billed automatically. If you cancel coverage, it will not be reinstated automatically. You have 31 days following your return to SF State to re-enroll
Flexible Spending Accounts Health / Dependent Care Contributions do not continue. Upon return, your remaining deductions are evenly divided over the pay periods remaining in the year Contributions do not continue.

 

SF State Leaves Team

Martha Paul
Associate Director, Benefits, Leaves, and Retirement Services
(415) 338-1878
mcpaul@sfsu.edu