Need to Request a Leave?

There may be times when you must take time off work to deal with personal and family needs or when you are injured or ill and cannot work for a period of time. In other cases, you might need time off to fulfill an obligation to serve in the military. This section provides information you need to know before, during, and after a leave of absence.

Family Medical Leave Act – FMLA

Employees who qualify may take up to twelve (12) weeks of paid/unpaid, job-protected leave for certain family and medical reasons. All approved requests for leave, including On-the-Job-Injury (OJI) will count toward the 12-week limit, if the employee qualifies for an FMLA leave. The employee must have worked at EPISD for at least one year and worked at least 1250 hours during the previous 12 months.

An FMLA leave may be granted for any one, or more, of the following reasons:

1. To care for a newborn child after birth
2. Placement for adoption or foster care
3. To care for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition
4. For a serious health condition that does not allow the employee to perform the duties of his/her job.
5. Due to a qualifying exigency arising from a spouse, child, or parent who is on active duty status in support of a contingency operation
6. Due to a serious injury or illness of a spouse, child, parent or next of kin who is a covered service member (Entitled to 26 workweeks of unpaid leave during a 12 month period)

While you are on an unpaid FMLA leave, EPISD will continue your insurance program as it exists just prior to your leave and will bill you for your normal payroll deduction amounts.

When you return from FMLA leave, you will be restored to your original or equivalent position with equivalent pay, benefits, and other terms of employment.

If you use FMLA leave, you will not lose any employment benefit that accrued prior to the start of your leave.

When to Apply for a Leave

You should apply for a leave at least 30 days prior to when you want your leave to begin, if possible. If applying for Professional Study Leave of Absence, your written request must be submitted by August 1 for the fall semester and by December 18 for the spring semester. In certain cases, such as a sudden illness, you must give as much notice as is reasonably practical.

Information Required When Applying for a Leave:
When you apply for a leave of absence, you should have the following information available before making the request:

• Type of leave
• Leave start date
• Anticipated return to work date
• Physician’s Certification if applicable

Note: if you are a supervisor requesting a leave of absence for an employee, you must also have the following information:

• First and last name of employee
• Employee ID #

Once you request and qualify for a leave, you will receive an approval letter from Employee Benefits, including information regarding your employment and benefit status. 

Upon your return, you must provide Employee Benefits with proper documentation (ex. Physician’s certification) to return to work, prior to returning to your assigned location Employee Benefits will provide you with a return to duty authorization form. This form must be provided to your immediate supervisor before returning to your assignment.

Any medical leave required beyond the 12 weeks/60 workdays will be evaluated and if approved, Leave of Absence status will be applied.

For more information regarding your rights under the Family Medical Leave act of 1993, you may review Policy DEC(legal) and/or Policy DEC(local).

If you have any questions, you may contact Julie Camacho, Benefits Coordinator at (915) 230-2063.