UC Expands Access to Paid Sick Leave and New Reproductive Loss Leave

The University of California has expanded access to paid sick leave for certain staff and academic employees who were previously ineligible and introduced new protections for those using paid sick leave, as well as leave following a reproductive loss. 

Effective January 1, 2025, these changes reflect UC's commitment to providing meaningful benefits that help employees balance their personal and professional responsibilities.

Expanded Paid Sick Leave
  • New eligibility
    • Part-time employees, including those in less than 50% FTE appointments, will now accrue sick leave when in sick-leave accruing titles.
    • Per diem staff and others in non-sick leave accruing titles (e.g., some academic appointees) will receive a new annual paid sick leave bank.
    • Sick leave balances will be updated in UCPath by the end of January.
  • More reasons to use sick leave: Employees can use paid sick leave for a broader range of situations (refer to UC PPSM 2.210 Absence From Work).
  • Protected leave: Employees can designate up to six days per year of their sick leave as protected, prohibiting any form of retaliation or discrimination for its use (see definition on UCnet). Your protected paid sick leave balance will be displayed in UCPath by the end of January 2025.
  • Extended reinstatement: Sick leave balances will now be reinstated if an employee returns to UC employment within 12 months of separation, unless the balance was converted to UCRP retirement credit.

Learn More
Visit UCnet’s Expansion of Paid Sick Leave webpage that includes key FAQs:

  • Does an employee have to notify the University before taking paid sick leave?
  • What is meant by “protected” paid sick leave?
  • Is unused paid sick leave reinstated if an employee is rehired by UC?
Reproductive Loss Leave

Employees are eligible for up to five days of leave following a reproductive loss, including:

  • Miscarriage or stillbirth
  • Failed adoption or surrogacy
  • Unsuccessful assisted reproduction


Eligible employees may take this leave within three months of the event.

Learn More

Timekeeping Systems

Employees will track requested protected sick leave and reproductive loss leave in their designated timekeeping system.

  • TRS (Davis campus)
    Updates will not be ready for leave reporting on January 1. 
     

Employees may use the temporary process outlined below while system updates are completed. When updated, a new hour type labeled Sick Protected (Non FML) will be available.

Screengrab depicting temporary TRS process. Employee in example has selected Sick as their "hour type" and in the comments section added a note 8.0 hours Protected Sick Leave.
TRS Temporary Process: Employee enters sick time using existing “Sick” hour type, then designates protection by adding a note under “Timesheet Comments” to indicate date and number of hours of Protected Sick Leave. 
  • Ecotime (UC Davis Health, School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Nursing)
    Updates will be ready for leave reporting on January 1.
     

 

Questions?
  • Ask your supervisor
  • Ask your departmental human resources contact
  • Contact your Employee Relations Consultant at Davis campus  |  UC Davis Health

Tags

Benefits Recruiting