DESCRIPTION
Employees are allowed to take unpaid leave with a guarantee they can return to their former position when the leave ends. An unpaid leave of absence allows an employee to be away from his/her job for an extended period of time for reasons other than an approved paid leave. The employee will be offered the opportunity to continue his/her medical benefits during the unpaid leave through the "Direct Pay" process.
PURPOSE
The leave of absence provides an unpaid leave of absence from an employee's job for reasons other than an approved leave and allows the employee to return to his/her former position when the leave ends.
ELIGIBILITY
All State employees who have permanent status are eligible, subject to management's approval. A 30-calendar-day leave may be granted to non-permanent employees.
USAGE
An unpaid leave of absence may be granted for, but not limited to, the following reasons:
- Attending school or college or to enter training to improve the quality of the employees' service;
- Temporary incapacity due to injury or illness;
- On loan to another governmental agency for performance of a specific assignment;
- To seek or accept other employment during a layoff situation or to otherwise lessen the impact of an impending layoff; or
- For other reasons equally satisfactory as determined by the appointing power.
REQUESTING AN UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Each request should be initiated according to departmental policy. Most State agencies require substantiation to support a request for an unpaid leave of absence.
LENGTH OF THE UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Extensions of an unpaid leave of absence may be requested by the employee and may be granted by the department head or designee. State departments are delegated the authority to grant unpaid leaves of absence up to one-year. State departments have the authority to extend the leave beyond the usual one-year timeframe with substantial justification.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM
Departments administer their own unpaid leave of absence program.
LEGAL AUTHORITY
DPA Rules 599.781, 599.782, 599.783, 599.784, 599.785
Government Code Sections 19991.1, 19991.2, 19991.3, 19991.4, 19991.5, 19991.6, 19991.7, 19991.8, 19991.9, and 19991.10
