Sick time off changes starting January 1
Your sick time off options are expanding to better support your needs and those of your family. Starting January 1, 2025, updates to state law will allow staff, contract –covered academic personnel, librarians and student employees to use sick time off for additional caregiving situations and emergencies. These changes include a broader definition of family member and new reasons for taking sick time off, giving you greater flexibility to manage life’s unexpected challenges.
The broader definition of “family member” for sick time off use now includes caring for:
- A child‘s spouse or registered domestic partner
- Parent-in-law
- An individual who regularly resides in the employee’s home or where the relationship creates an expectation that the employee cares for the person and that individual depends on the employee for care. For the purpose of sick time off, the definition of family member does not include an individual who simply resides in the same home with no expectation that the employee cares for the individual.
Staff, contract –covered academic personnel, librarians and student employees will also be able to use sick time off when their child’s school or place of care has been closed after the declaration of an emergency by a local or state government or agency, or by the federal government.
UWHR sick time off policies for will be updated with the new family definition and reasons for use on Jan. 1, 2025.
- Sick time off for regular contract covered, classified and professional staff
- Sick time off for student hourly employees