Leave Types

The A&M System provides many types of leave to regular employees (those budgeted for at least 50% time for at least four and one-half (4.5) months, except students employed in positions that require student status as a condition for employment).

• Holidays
• Vacation
• Sick Leave
• Sick Leave Pool
• Sick Leave Donation
• Compensatory Time
• Leave of Absence With Pay
• Leave of Absence Without Pay
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Birthday Leave
• Manager's Quick Leave Guide

Holidays

Employees are generally eligible for 12 to 15 holidays per calendar year. The state legislature determines the number of holidays and the A&M System Board of Regents approves the specific days based on the recommendations of university/agency CEOs.

• Holiday Schedule
• Texas A&M University System Policy 31.04, Holidays
• Texas A&M University System Regulation 31.04.01, System Holidays

Vacation

Eligible employees are entitled to vacation and are allowed to take it when requested as long as the timing does not disrupt the department’s function. However, an employee must have six (6) months of continuous state service in either the present position or a previous state position, including a student employee position, before he/she can take vacation. Supervisors shall require employees to use their accrued Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) compensatory time (if applicable), before using vacation. (System Policy 31.03.01, Vacation.)

Sick Leave

Full time employees are eligible to earn up to eight (8) hours of sick leave per month. Earned sick leave may be used when you or an immediate family member is ill or injured or has a doctor or dentist appointment.  There is no waiting period before sick leave may be taken.

• An employee who is the parent of a child who is a student attending a grade from prekindergarten through 12th grade may use up to eight hours of sick leave each fiscal year to attend educational activities of his or her children.  The employee must provide reasonable advance notice of need for this leave.
• An employee who adopts a child younger than three (3) years may use the amount of sick leave that would normally be granted for recovery from pregnancy and childbirth, beginning the date that the child is placed in the home of the adoptive parent. The amount of sick leave should not exceed six weeks.
• When an employee is absent for more than three (3) continuous working days, a physician’s statement that indicates the cause or nature of the illness and the estimated recovery date or a comparable written statement of the facts concerning the illness will be required upon his/her return to work.

For more information, see System Regulation 31.03.02, Sick Leave or contact the Payroll Services Coordinator at payroll@tamut.edu or (903) 223-3097. 

Sick Leave Pool

The Sick Leave Pool was designated by the Texas Legislature for catastrophic illness or injury. The maximum amount an employee can receive from the Sick Leave Pool is 720 hours per illness.

Eligibility

An employee is eligible to request and receive sick leave pool hours if the employee suffers a catastrophic illness or injury for which the employee:

(a) is or has been under a licensed practitioner’s care; and

(b) has been absent from work for a prolonged period, a minimum of 80 hours consecutively or intermittently.

For part time employees, the requirement of 80 hours will be proportional to their percent effort (50% effort = 40 hours missed work).

Sick Leave Donation

Direct donations of accrued sick leave can now be given directly to a recipient by completing the following Donor form and Recipient Form.  For more information, see System Regulation 31.06.02, Sick Leave Donation or contact the Payroll & Leave Coordinator at payroll@tamut.edu or (903) 223-3097.

• Sick Leave Pool Donation Form
• Sick Leave Pool Direct Donation Form

Compensatory (Comp) Time

Key Features of FLSA, State, and Holiday Comp Time

 

Leave of Absence with Pay

Eligible employees are entitled to take paid time off for various activities, including emergency, administrative or other leave with pay.

Employees may use this type of paid leave without using their earned vacation, sick leave, or compensatory time.  While on leave with pay, an employee will continue to receive regular salary and benefits and will continue to accrue vacation, sick leave and state service credit. 

Some examples of leaves of absence with pay are listed below.  Note: CEO/President approval is required for emergency and administrative leave.  See System Policy 31.03.03,  Leave of Absence with Pay for a complete list, including eligibility, conditions and other requirements.  The  Payroll & Leave Coordinator may also be contacted  at payroll@tamut.edu or (903) 223-3097 for additional information.

Emergency Leave with Pay 

• • Death of a Family Member
  • Unsafe Work or Travel Conditions
  • Emergency Evacuation Order
  • Office Closures
  • Other Circumstances as Approved by the President

Administrative and Other Types of Leave with Pay 

• • Amateur Radio Operators
    
  • American Red Cross Disaster Service Volunteers
    
  • Assistance Dog Training for Employees with a Disability
  • Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Volunteers
  • Faculty Development Leave (See System Regulation 12.99.01, Faculty Development Leave)
  • Foster Parents
  • Investigation
  • Jury Service
  • Medical and Mental Health Care for Certain Veterans
  • Organ, Bone Marrow or Blood Donors
  • Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Medical Services Volunteers
  • Voting

Leave of Absence without Pay

Leave without pay is available for employees who have exhausted their accumulated paid leave and require time off for medical reasons, unpaid military leave or other approved reasons.  See System Policy 31.03.04,  Leave of Absence without Pay for additional information.

Family Medical Leave Act

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law which came into effect in 1993. It requires that employees are granted up to 12 weeks of FMLA job-protected leave per fiscal year, for specific medical reasons. FMLA may be granted at any time but it does not mean that it will be automatically approved or that the employee is eligible for FMLA leave.

Eligibility Requirements

1. 1. Must have worked for the employer for a total of 12 months
   2. Must have worked at least 1,250 hours over the previous 12 months
   3. Must complete and turn in FMLA Application

* Prior state service and time military members spend deployed counts.

Reasons for FMLA

1. 1. Birth and care of the eligible employee’s child, placement for adoption or foster care of a child with the employee.
   2. Care of an immediate family member (spouse, child, parent) who has a serious health condition.
   3. Care of the employee’s own serious health condition

• Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act
• Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (Spanish)

Birthday Leave

Full-time staff at A&M-Texarkana may be granted eight (8) hours of paid leave during the month of their birthday with prior approval from their supervisor/hiring manager. 

Birthday Leave is requested in Workday by using "Other Emergencies" as the type of leave and inputting "Birthday Leave" in the comment field.  For questions about Birthday Leave, contact the  Payroll & Leave Coordinator at payroll@tamut.edu or (903) 223-3097.

The following conditions apply.  

• An employee must be employed six (6) months prior to requesting birthday leave.
• Temporary, part-time, contract employees or faculty are not eligible for this benefit.
• Birthday Leave must not be split over multiple days. Time off must be taken on one day within the employee's birth month.
• Birthday Leave must receive prior supervisory/hiring manager approval.
• Under extraordinary circumstances, the supervisor/hiring manager may approve Birthday Leave in the month following the employee's birth month if the employee's workload doesn't permit time off during their birth month.

Birthday Leave Procedure/Instructions 

Manager's Quick Leave Guide

Quick Leave Guide