Time Off, Leaves and Accommodations

Family and Medical leave (“FML”) is job-protected, unpaid leave available to eligible employees. In accordance with the U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act, FML is available to you for the following reasons:

1. To care for the employee’s newborn child after birth, or placement for adoption or foster care within one year of birth or placement;
2. To care for the employee’s spouse, child (including same-sex spouse’s child (that is, a stepchild)), or parent (but not in-law) who has a serious health condition; and/or
3. For the employee’s own serious health condition (including any period of incapacity due to pregnancy, prenatal medical care or childbirth) that makes the employee unable to perform one or more of the essential functions of his or her job.
4. For any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that a spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a military member on covered active duty or call to covered active duty status.

FML is not available for reasons other than those stated above.

Please contact Human Resources to inquire about Family Medical Leave or [email protected] or x2084.

Forms below are available to print and complete by the eligible employees:

• Rights and Responsibilities under FMLA
• Employee Action Form
• Certification of Health Care Provider for Employee’s Serious Health Condition
• Certification of Health Care Provider for Family Member’s Serious Health Condition
• Leave of Absence Policy
  • Family Medical Leave
  • Military Family Medical Leave
  • Parental Leave
  • Domestic Violence Leave
  • Personal Leave
  • Sabbaticals, please see Faculty Policy Manual
  • Small Necessities Leave
  • Jury & Witness Duty
  • Bereavement Leave
  • Military Leave
  • Reserve Duty and Training
  • Active Duty

Please note:

• Once leave is requested, Benefits and Payroll will provide you with the Rights and Responsibilities under FMLA and a form for your Health Provider to complete. You will have 15 calendar days to return the Health Provider form to Benefits and Payroll.
• Upon receipt of your Health Provider form, Benefits and Payroll will provide you with an approval or denial of FML including details if additional information is needed, within 5 business days.
• Once leave is approved, Benefits and Payroll and/or the employee will reach out to the manager to coordinate this time off under the leave provisions.
• You will also be provided additional details on how to coordinate your time off in Work Day and with your manager.
  • If requesting intermittent leave, additional coordination with your manager will be needed before intermittent leave can be approved.

• Mass Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (MA PFML)
• Simmons Massachusetts Paid Family Leave Notice
• 2023 Simmons Massachusetts Paid Family Leave Notice

• NY State Disability Benefits – Notice of Compliance
• NY State Paid Family Leave – Notice to Employees

We recognize that employees need time away from work to rest, reflect, and re-energize. We provide staff employees with vacation time for these purposes. Faculty do not earn vacation days. Regular staff employees (benefit eligible part-time and full-time) accrue vacation. Temporary workers do not accrue vacation.

PLEASE NOTE: Some information in the policy has been changed. Please see the FAQ here for the most current information.

• Vacation Policy

• Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave law
• University Holiday and Winter Break Policy
• FY23/24 Holiday and Winter Break Schedule
  • FY24 Holiday and Winter Break Schedule (pdf)
• Sick Time
  • Memo on Earned Sick Time Law 07/01/2015
  • Note: We are currently in the process of reviewing our sick time policy so that it aligns with the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law.
• How to Request Time Off in Workday

Please refer to Section 8 of the Employee Handbook for more detailed information regarding Time Off.