Sick Leave Accrual

Full-time staff members who work at least 37.5 hours per week accrue sick leave at the rate of one day per month to a maximum of 90 days. Full-time staff members who work fewer than 37.5 hours and part-time staff members who work on a regularly scheduled basis accrue sick leave on a pro rata basis to a maximum of 90 days.

Limited-time, temporary, and casual staff members do not accrue sick leave.

Sick leave accrual begins the month the staff member begins working if the starting date is the 10th of the month or earlier; otherwise, accrual begins the following month. Accrual continues through the month of termination if the date of termination is the 20th of the month or later. Accrued sick leave is available the first of the month following accrual. Paid sick leave cannot be taken in advance of being earned.

Staff members who must be absent due to non-work-related illness or injury, pregnancy, or dental or medical appointment must notify their supervisor or designee in accordance with department procedures. Staff members may be required to furnish a written physician’s statement.

Maryland Flexible Leave Act: A staff member who must be absent due to the illness or injury of an immediate family member or to accompany an immediate family member to a dental or medical appointment can charge the absence to accrued leave (sick, vacation, or floating holiday). Staff members absent on paid sick leave continue to accrue sick leave and vacation. University holidays occurring during sick leave are not charged to sick leave. If a staff member is on sick leave and the university officially closes, the time the university is officially closed will not be charged to accrued sick leave. However, the university must be officially closed for at least one half day.

Wondering what happens to sick leave under various scenarios?

• Staff members transferring from one department to a staff position in another department within the university retain their accrued sick leave.
• Staff members transferring from a benefits-eligible status to a non-benefits-eligible status, faculty position, appointed position, or student classification will lose accrued sick leave.
• At termination, staff members are not paid for unused accrued sick leave.
• Staff members terminated for lack of funds or abolishment of position and rehired within a 12-month period are credited with unused sick leave outstanding at the time of termination.
• Support and senior staff who qualify as a retiree of the university can convert accrued, unused sick leave in excess of 45 days of accrual to cash payment. The maximum number of sick leave days that can be accrued is 90 days, and the maximum number that can be converted to cash payment is 45 days.
• A staff member who has been employed for one continuous year in a benefits-eligible status and resigns in good standing will be eligible to have credited unused sick leave outstanding at the time of the termination if the staff member returns to a benefits-eligible position within six months of termination date.