| Title: | Military Leave |
|---|---|
| Policy Owner: | Department of Human Resources |
| Applies to: | Faculty, Staff |
| Campus Applicability: | All Campuses, including UConn Health |
| Approval Date: | February 27, 2024 |
| Effective Date: | February 29, 2024 |
| For More Information, Contact | Department of Human Resources |
| Contact Information: | All Campuses: 860-486-3034 or hr@uconn.edu UConn Health: 860-679-2426 or hr@uchc.edu |
| Official Website: | https://www.hr.uconn.edu/ https://health.uconn.edu/human-resources/contacts |
PURPOSE
Congress and the state of Connecticut have put protections in place for employees who choose to pursue non-career service in the military. Additionally, state legislation provides for additional benefits and compensation for state employees called to active military service. The purpose of this policy is to provide direction to University of Connecticut and UConn Health employees on how to avail themselves of those protections and benefits.
POLICY STATEMENT
Federal and state statutes protect individuals performing, or who have performed, uniformed service from employment discrimination on the basis of their uniformed service and provides for their prompt restoration to civilian employment when they return to civilian life. Uniformed service means the Armed Forces; the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, when engaged in active duty for training, inactive duty training, or full-time National Guard duty; the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service; and any category of persons designated by the U.S. President in time of war or emergency. Armed forces means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force and any reserve component thereof, including the Connecticut National Guard.
A UConn or UConn Health employee who is a member of the uniformed service will be provided the required protections under Federal and state law while under military orders. However, not all military activities will qualify state employees for additional benefits and compensation.
Employees who are scheduled to go on military leave should provide notice to their supervisors as far in advance as possible, so that alternative arrangements can be made if the military leave with pay is denied.
Military Leave:
Employees who are members of the U.S. Armed Forces or any of its reserve components and who are ordered to active duty are entitled to military leave from their jobs and may be entitled to additional benefits and compensation.
Employees are entitled to military leave with pay for required drills and training, up to three weeks per calendar year or as denoted in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. See C.G.S. § 27- 33a; see also Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), 38 U.S.C. §§ 4301–4335.
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 5-259d, employees who are called to active duty for any military operation, war or national emergency may be eligible to receive partial pay for the duration of such call-up to active service. Such employees may also be eligible to accrue vacation and sick leave and may be eligible for benefit continuation during the period of time they are serving in the military.
Unless the Collective Bargaining Agreement applicable to the employee specifies otherwise, the annual entitlement period is a calendar year (January 1 through December 31).
ENFORCEMENT
Approval of military leave with pay is subject to a review of the military orders by the applicable Human Resources Office.
Violations of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and the University of Connecticut Student Code.
PROCEDURES/FORMS
University Storrs and Regional Campuses
The form to apply for military leave may be found in Core-CT. Employees are required to upload a copy of the appropriate military orders.
Employees should inform their supervisors of the status of military leave requests and/or approvals.
Please direct questions to the University’s Leave Administrator at 860-486-3034.
UConn Health
Employees must submit a copy of the appropriate military orders to HR to initiate a request for military leave.
Employees should also inform their supervisors of the status of military leave requests and/or approvals.
Please direct questions to UConn Health’s HR Resource Center at 860-679-2426.
REFERENCES
State of Connecticut, Office of the State Comptroller Memorandum 2013-24 dated September 27, 2013, and State of Connecticut, Office of Labor Relations General Notice 88-6 dated March 24, 1988, provide additional guidance to the University and UConn Health.
POLICY HISTORY
Policy created: January 2, 2004
Revisions: February 27, 2024 (Approved by the Senior Policy Council and the President)