[June 1, 2010]

UC faculty and staff will be allowed to use up to 30 days of sick leave to care for and bond with a newborn, adopted or foster child under a new leave provision, effective June 1, 2010.

In making the change, the university updated its Absence from Work policy and consolidated several existing leave provisions into a single, comprehensive absence policy. The changes were adopted after a two-month review that included an opportunity for staff input.

"Supporting employees' work-life balance is an ongoing priority for UC, and we're pleased to be able to offer this expanded benefit, especially during this time of furloughs and budget cuts," said Dwaine Duckett, vice president of human resources.

The Absence from Work policy changes several other provisions regarding vacation, sick leave and other leaves including:

• Increases from 30 days to 12 weeks the amount of sick leave an employee may use during a Family and Medical Leave to address a serious health condition of the employee, a spouse or domestic partner, a child or a parent;
• Allows a re-employed staff member to have previously accrued sick leave reinstated if the employee returns to work at UC within 90 days (previously 15 days);
• Increases from 5 to 10 days in the amount of sick leave that may be used in the event of the death of a family or household member;
• Allows use of sick leave in order to donate bone marrow (up to 5 days) or organs for transplant (up to 30 days);
• Allows employees to use vacation leave or unpaid leave to serve as an election officer on Election Day;
• Prohibits staff from using vacation or sick leave intermittently during an unpaid leave of absence in order to benefit from holiday pay and employer contributions to benefits that would otherwise not be provided.

The updated policy applies to Professionals and Support Staff (PSS), Managers and Senior Professionals (PSS) and Senior Management Group members (SMG).

To read the full policy, visit the Personnel Policies for Staff Members on the At Your Service website.

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