Employee Matters

Sick leave is one of the most valuable of all university employee benefits. You earn sick leave credits from the beginning to the end of university employment and there is no limit to the amount you can accumulate.

You can use sick leave in various situations. Sick leave credits are available at the time of death, disability or retirement to pay state group health insurance premiums.

Who is eligible for sick leave? You are eligible to earn sick leave if you are a full- or part-time, permanent or project classified employee or a full- or part-time unclassified employee covered under the Wisconsin Retirement System.

How and when do I earn leave? You earn sick leave when in “pay status.” In pay status means actively at work or on paid leave of absence. In other words, you earn sick leave if you are receiving a paycheck.

Classified employees earn sick leave credits each biweekly pay period. Your earnings statement shows the amount earned, used and any cumulative balance.

Unclassified employees receive 176 hours of sick leave at the time of your initial appointment (18-month entitlement). If your appointment is less than full time, you receive a prorated amount based on your appointment percentage. Following your initial entitlement, you earn additional sick leave based on your appointment type (academic or calendar year) and appointment percentage. Your leave statement shows the amount you earned, used and the cumulative balance.

When can it be used?
You will usually use leave for personal illness or medical appointments. However, you can use sick leave in other circumstances. If you are a non-represented classified or unclassified employee, refer to your Benefits Booklet (UW1378) for specific policies.

Form UW1378 can be found at: http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/uw1378.html.

Refer to your collective bargaining agreement if you are a represented classified employee.

When do credits transfer to other state employment?
Generally, you can transfer sick leave credits to the same or different classifications (i.e. classified to unclassified, unclassified to classified). However, there are some exceptions, so it’s important that you check with your benefits coordinator about your individual situation.

When and how can sick leave credits be used to pay for health insurance?
Sick leave credits can be converted to a “dollar value” to pay for state group health insurance premiums at the time of death, disability or retirement. The converted “dollar value” of your sick leave is determined by multiplying your current base hourly rate by your total hours of accumulated sick leave.

Sick leave also has an enhancement provision for employees who have 15 or more years of service. See the new brochure on Sick Leave Value for additional information on the enhancement and other aspects of sick leave. The comprehensive brochure is posted at: http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/whats-new.html.

More questions?
Contact a benefits specialist, 263-7556 or 262-5650, employee@bussvc.wisc.edu.