Sick Leave Bank
The Sick Leave Bank is an opportunity for eligible employees to protect their income. The Sick Leave Bank may provide paid leave to bank members who have exhausted all of their own paid leave due to a personal illness or injury.
Open enrollment for the Sick Leave Bank is conducted in April, May, and June of each year. Enrollment forms must be submitted to Human Resources, Employee Relations, 910 Madison, Suite 764 by June 30th.
See HR0382 Sick Leave Bank Policy (UT System) for additional information.
Testimonials
Marjo Jacks
Marjo Jacks joined the UT Health Science Center's sick leave bank in the late 1990s in order to help her fellow UT employees.
"I saw so many people around me who had problems, and I thought I could at least give some hours to help them," Marjo said.
In 2006, Marjo was paid back for her volunteer spirit. She needed surgery and the recovery time was supposed to be short. However, due to complications, her post-surgery recovery took longer than expected. After using up her personal time, she was granted time from the sick leave bank.
"It's wonderful to have the bank to fall back on," Marjo said. "You just don't know from day to day when you'll end up needing it."
Marjo added that joining the sick leave bank is about more than just a safety net for UT employees.
"It's an opportunity to help others," she said.
Terrence Benton
Terrence Benton, a community service officer at the UT Health Science Center, had not been a member of the sick leave bank for long when he ended up needing to use it.
"I signed up in July 2010 and had my knee surgery in September," Terrence said.
From September to December, Terrence was out of work recovering from the surgery. "I had some time built up before the surgery, but I knew I was going to run out by early November," he said.
Terrence had such a positive experience with the sick leave bank that he has encouraged many of his co-workers to join as well.
Employees may only enroll in this benefit during the annual Open Enrollment period each April 1st – June 30th. Enrollment forms should be submitted to Human Resources, Benefits, 910 Madison, Ste. 727 by June 30th of each year; membership is effective July 1st.
New enrollee's will receive confirmation of enrollment during the month of July in the year in which they enroll. Employees are not required to re-enroll for this benefit each year; upon enrollment your membership remains in force for the remainder of your employment.
Employees considering enrollment should review the Rules of Membership. New enrollees are subject to a six month pre-existing condition waiting period.
Visit the Human Resources Training website to sign up for one of the quarterly HR128 trainings on this benefit.
In order to be eligible for a sick leave bank grant employees must be on an approved Family and Medical Leave and have exhausted all of their own sick, annual, and personal leave for their own personal illness or injury. Grants from the sick leave bank are not granted when caring for a spouse, child, parent, or any other individual who is not the employee.
The following illnesses and injuries are ineligible for a grant from the sick leave bank:
- Elective surgeries
- Normal pregnancy and childbirth
- Conditions for which an employee is receiving:
- disability benefits
- retirement benefits
- worker's compensation benefits
Requesting a Grant
This information is provided to advise the employee of how to make a request for a sick leave bank grant and what to expect with regard to how the grant will be processed.
- Complete the Withdrawal Request Form. Forms may be submitted by fax, email, or delivered in person.
- A health care provider must certify the need for a grant by completing and returning the Medical Form . Forms may be submitted by fax, email, or delivered in person.
- The request will be summarized and all personally identifiable information will be removed. The request will then be sent to the Sick Leave Bank Trustee Board for determination.
- Sick Leave Bank grant request are approved if 3 of the 5 trustee’s approve the request. The Sick Leave Bank trustee board has 10 business days to make a determination.
- Employees will receive a letter in the mail informing them of the determination of the request. Department supervisors will also receive this information.
- If approved, payroll will be sent documentation to add the requested hours to the employee’s sick leave bank balance.
- Employees may receive up to a 90 day grant within a calendar year. Initial grants are made for 30 days and employees are required to have their health care provider submit an additional medical certification for additional days up to the 90 day maximum.
- Hours from the sick leave bank should be listed on the timesheet as sick leave.
- Any unused hours granted to an employee must be returned to the bank.