Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program Guidelines
The UCR Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program permits an employee to voluntarily donate a portion of their accrued vacation leave to be used by other University employees (who have exhausted all of their own accrued paid leave benefits) to address circumstances.
Circumstances include:
- a catastrophic injury or illness or an employee;
- caring for a catastrophically ill or injured family member or household member;
- the death of a family or household member;
- or a catastrophic casualty loss suffered by an employee due to, for example, a terrorist attack, fire, or natural disaster.
Catastrophic Leave Definition
A serious non-work-related health condition of the employee or employee's family or household (e.g., spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, in-laws, step-relatives in the relationship or individuals residing in the employee's household), which creates a financial hardship because the employee has exhausted all available leave credits and is not, or not yet, eligible for disability benefits.
Serious Health Condition
A serious health condition is an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves:
- Any period of incapacity or treatment connected with inpatient care ( e.g., an overnight stay) in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility; or
- A period of incapacity requiring absence of more than five business days from work, school, or other regular daily activities that also involve continuing treatment by (or under the supervision of) a licensed health care provider; or
- Any period of incapacity due to pregnancy, or for prenatal care; or
- Any period of incapacity or treatment due to a chronic serious health condition (e.g., asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, etc.); or
- A period of incapacity that is permanent or long-term due to a condition for which treatment may be effective (e.g., Alzheimer’s, stroke, terminal disease, etc.); or
- Any absence to receive multiple treatments (including any period of recovery) by, or referral by, a licensed health care provider (e.g., chemotherapy, physical therapy, dialysis, etc.).
Catastrophic Casualty Loss
A loss suffered by an employee due to a terrorist attack, fire, or natural disaster.
Eligible Recipient (Requestor)
A UCR employee is eligible to receive Catastrophic Leave if they:
- are a career staff employee who has completed the probationary period and is eligible to accrue and use vacation;
- are a fiscal-year academic employee who is eligible to accrue and use vacation;
- have exhausted all paid leave credits (vacation, sick, CTO), or will do so before the return to work date;
- have submitted all required leave of absence paperwork requested by the department and have an approved leave of absence in relation to the catastrophic illness or injury OR is able to work, but a healthcare provider has prescribed multiple and/or on-going treatments for an eligible condition which will require periodic absences from work;
- are not presently receiving University disability benefits or Workers' Compensation payments. An employee who has applied to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits is not eligible to apply for Catastrophic Leave; however, that employee may apply if his/her claim is denied.
- have not received any formal disciplinary action for excessive absenteeism during the 12 month period immediately preceding the request for catastrophic leave.
Eligible Donor
UCR career staff employees or academic employees who are eligible to accrue and use vacation.
Donation Leave Credits
Leave that may be donated is defined as accrued whole hours of vacation leave. Sick leave and compensatory time cannot be donated.
Approved Leave of Absence
Approved leave of absence is defined as the requestor’s department being in receipt of all required leave paperwork as determined by the type of leave being requested.
Catastrophic Leave Procedures
Requesting Catastrophic Leave
- The requestor must complete the Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program Request Form.
- The Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program Request Form must be submitted to Central Human Resources.
- Human Resources will verify that the requesting employee has exhausted all paid leave credits or will do so before the return to work date and verify the status of the leave with the department/shared services center.
- After verification, Human Resources will transfer donated hours in accordance with the Catastrophic Leave Sharing policy.
Donating Vacation Hours to the Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program
- Donors must complete the Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program Donation Form. The same form is used to make donations to a specific employee or to any eligible employee.
- The completed Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program Donation Form must be forwarded to Central Human Resources.
- Human Resources will verify that the donor has the vacation accruals available to make the donation.
- After verification, Human Resources will transfer donated hours in accordance with the Catastrophic Leave Sharing policy.
Catastrophic Leave Responsibilities
Requestor
- Complete the Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program Request Form.
- Ensure all leave of absence paperwork requested by the department has been submitted.
Donor
- Complete the Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program Donation Form.
- Ensure that the vacation hours are available to be donated.
Human Resources
- Verify the availability of donated hours.
- Verify the requestor’s sick, vacation and compensatory time accruals.
- Contact the requestor’s department/shared services center to verify the status of the leave of absence.
- Verify disability waiting period.
- Verify the number of hours needed by the requestor with the department/shared services center.
- Transfer donated hours in accordance with the Catastrophic Leave Sharing policy.
Special Considerations
In the case of approved bereavement leave, up to 40 hours of catastrophic leave may be used if all other paid leave has been exhausted and the employee is receiving catastrophic leave donations immediately prior to the effective date of the bereavement leave.
Miscellaneous
- Participation in the Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program by employees is on a strictly voluntary basis.
- The Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program is not subject to any grievance or arbitration procedure applicable to the employee.
- Administration of the program will be coordinated by Central Human Resources.
- If you have questions or need more information, please contact catleave@ucr.edu.