Paid time off, part 1: Sick days and Medical Leave
Article 13 of our contract covers paid time off. Many GEO members don’t know that we have paid sick days, parental leave, and bereavement leave so it’s important that you know your rights.
Medical Leave (Sick Days): Article 13.A
Each GSI or GSSA is entitled to a total of three weeks of paid medical leave time in a 12 month period. Weeks in this case are not calendar weeks, but are defined by the number of days in a week that you are on campus to do your job. So, for instance, say you are GSIing for a course in which you attend lecture on Mondays and Wednesdays, hold office hours on Tuesdays, and lead discussion section on Fridays. One week, in this case, will equal four days.
It is important to note that medical leave days are not just for when you’re sick. You can also take them to care for your child or or partner if they become sick.
Parental Leave: Article 13.B
If you have a child or adopt a child under the age of six, you have the right to a paid parental accommodation period. This is a period of three weeks added on to your three weeks of medical leave time. You can also take an additional unpaid six weeks off, and during this time your benefits will remain the same.
There are some ambiguities surrounding this article that would make it worthwhile to confer with your department and consult GEO’s staff and Grievance Committee well in advance of parental leave. The contract states that, if at all possible, you should let your department know in writing you will be needing this time off at least 4 weeks in advance. If your department decides that your return from parental leave would cause “an undue disruption” (although what this term means is quite vague), they can modify or even eliminate your position.
Bereavement Leave: Article 13.E
In the case of the death of your or your partner’s child, parent or step-parent, grandparent, sibling, or grandchild, you have the right to three days of paid leave to attend the funeral or memorial service. You may also be granted an extra 14 unpaid days of leave upon request.
This is an area in our contract that should be strengthened in the future, as for some international students, three days is barely enough time to travel home.
Article 13.F: In any of these cases, your department can ask you to help them find a replacement to cover your work, but they cannot deny you time off if no one can be found. Arranging for a replacement worker is ultimately their responsibility.
Have you been denied paid time off for sickness, a death in the family, or the birth of a child? If this has happened within the last 40 days, you will still be able to file a grievance. Contact our Grievance Committee Chair at grrrchair@geo3550.org or call (734) 995-0221.
Read the full GEO contract here.
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