This notification is to inform you that effective July 1, 2020, all existing Board of Trustees policies, regulations, rules or authority governing the use of non-accumulative sick leave benefits will be reinstated, and non-accumulative sick leave benefits will be administered in accordance with university policies and procedures. Employees represented by a union are encouraged to refer their collective bargaining agreement regarding use of paid benefits as these agreements will take precedence on the use of the non-accumulating sick leave benefits. A copy of the collective bargaining agreements are available on the Human Resources website. Please contact your union representative for assistance with the application of the union contract.
In March 2020, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university acted quickly to ensure all eligible employees had access to sick leave benefits should they need them. The university also committed to making sure that employees did not have to go without pay to access non-accumulative sick leave benefits during that unprecedented time. In order to make this possible for employees, the Board of Trustees temporarily suspended the regulations that govern non-accumulative sick leave benefits effective March 16, 2020 through June 30, 2020.
What is Not Changing?
While we are reinstating the policies and procedures related to utilizing accrued benefits or pay deduct prior to utilizing non-accumulative sick leave benefits, we recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic continues. At this time, it is also important to reiterate what is not changing as it relates to the use of non-accumulative sick leave benefits:
- The available balances for the personal (25 working days) and family (25 working days) non-accumulative sick leave reset on July 1, 2020. These balances are adjusted for part time employees and new hires.
- Employees who are unable to work or choose not to work for personal reasons related to COVID-19 can utilize their personal non-accumulative sick leave benefits during this time. This should be recorded as personal sick leave on your hourly time sheet or salaried benefit usage form.
- Employees who wish to adjust their schedule to work reduced hours, from home or on campus, may supplement their remaining time by using any of their personal benefits.
- The university remains committed to being flexible and understanding for employees who are balancing work with child and/or elder care needs during this time. Employees who are unable to work for this reason can access the family non-accumulative sick leave benefits during the COVID-19 period. This should be recorded as family sick leave on your hourly time sheet or salaried benefit usage form.
- Employees should continue to record personal or family sick leave on their hourly time sheets or salaried benefit usage forms as applicable based on usage. Employees will be paid based on available balances in each category.
Questions on this notification can be directed to payroll@niu.edu.
Vernese Edghill-Walden
Interim Chief Human Resource Officer
