Employee Matters

Staff of the Employee Compensation and Benefits Services office prepare this column. You may e-mail us at Employee@bussvc.wisc.edu, or call Employee Services at 263-7556 or 262-5650.

Military Leave

I’ve been called to active duty in the military. How will this affect my UW employment?
As soon as you find out you will be activated for military duty, contact the Employee Compensation and Benefits office at 262-1212 or complete the online form to make an appointment with a counselor. You also can speak with a counselor on the phone if you cannot come into the office. A counselor will explain how active military service affects your benefits and pay status. Read more information about how military leave affects your benefits.

Am I eligible for any paid leave benefits while on active duty?
State statute and labor agreements generally provide 30 workdays of leave without loss of pay each calendar year for military service. In addition, Wisconsin Act 162 provides for new military leave benefits. The law is effective retroactively to Jan. 1, 2003. In general, if you are called to active duty while employed by the state, you qualify for supplementary pay for up to two years in addition to the 30 workdays of supplementary pay previously provided. These new military leave benefits are outlined in Office of State Employment Relations Bulletins OSER-0019-CLR/LR and OSER-0046-CLR/LR.

During the 30-workday leave provision, you will receive the higher of state pay or military base pay. During the two-year leave provision, you will receive the higher of state pay or military base pay plus your military housing allowance. You will need to submit proof of military pay received during your active tour to your payroll coordinator. You will continue to accrue all benefits that you receive when you are in active state pay status (vacation, personal holiday, legal holidays, sick leave, WRS credit). Paid leave will not be granted for fewer than three consecutive days of active duty.

What happens to my insurance coverage during military leave?
During a paid leave of absence for military service, deductions for coverage will continue unless you let coverage lapse. If coverage lapses, you then have the option to reapply for your benefit plan(s) within 30 days of returning to work. For information about how your military leave may affect specific benefits plans, please see http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/emp-leave-menu.html on the EC&BS Web site.

What happens when I return from active military service?
You can use up to 160 hours of accumulated paid leave before reporting back to your job. This leave must be used no later than 30 calendar days after the completion of military service. You cannot use sick leave during this time. If you have remaining paid leave after this time, you can carry over the leave for up to two years.

You have up to 180 days after your completion of military service to report back to your job. Once you return to work, you have 30 days to apply for any lapsed benefits.

Other questions?
Visit the EC&BS Web site at http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/ecbs.html or send your question to employee@bussvc.wisc.edu.