“Leave of absence without pay” describes an unpaid leave of absence that may be approved for the following reasons:

• Educational leave

• Leave for government service in public interest

• Volunteer or community service

• Union project activities in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement

• Other personal, non-medical reasons that may be approved at your department’s discretion

Requesting a leave of absence without pay

To request an educational, government service or a personal leave of absence without pay, submit a written request to your manager and the director of Human Resources. Your request must identify the reason and duration of the requested leave.

Requests for these leaves of absence without pay will only be approved if your manager is reasonably certain that your position will still be available when you return from leave. Approval/disapproval determinations will be made based on coverage considerations, which may include, but are not limited to, anticipated FTE needs, use of contract labor, staff already out on leave, departmental use of overtime, and whether the employee is in good standing.

Accounting for your absence with time off

You must deplete your accrued time off before taking unpaid time off during a leave of absence without pay. However, the specific terms and conditions under which you may take unpaid time off versus paid time off are defined your employment program or collective bargaining agreement.

Impact of Leave Without Pay on Benefits and Service Credits

Taking a leave of absence without pay may affect various aspects of your employment benefits and service credits. Consider the following potential impacts:

Service Credits with DRS (Department of Retirement Systems)

• While on a leave of absence without pay, you may not accrue service credits towards your retirement benefits. This could impact your retirement date and the amount of your pension.

Eligibility for Benefits through SEBB (School Employees Benefits Board)

• Your eligibility for benefits provided through SEBB, such as health, dental, and vision insurance, may be affected during your unpaid leave. You may need to arrange for self-pay to maintain these benefits during your leave period. Please contact the Benefits Office for specific details and options.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

• If you are participating in the PSLF program, an unpaid leave of absence may affect your qualifying payments. Since PSLF requires 120 qualifying monthly payments, any interruption in your regular payment schedule due to unpaid leave could delay your eligibility for loan forgiveness. It is recommended that you consult with your loan servicer for detailed information.