Time off for domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking
Last updated: March 11, 2025
This webpage applies to all staff, student employees and academic personnel.
You may take reasonable time off as a single block of time, on an intermittent basis, or on a reduced schedule to seek help if you or your family member is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Reasons for time off
You may request time off for any of the following reasons, when related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking:
- To seek legal or law enforcement assistance to ensure your personal safety or the safety of your family members
- To seek treatment by a health-care provider for your physical or mental injuries or to attend the health-care treatment of a family member
- To obtain, or assist a family member to obtain, mental health counseling
- To obtain, or assist a family member to obtain, services from a domestic violence shelter, rape crisis center, or other social service program
- To participate in safety planning, temporarily or permanently relocate, or take other actions to increase your or your family members’ safety from future domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking
Definition of family member
For the purpose of this time off type, family member is defined as:
- Your spouse or domestic partner, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sister, or brother
- The child, parent, or grandparent of your spouse or domestic partner
- A person with whom you have a dating relationship
Requesting time off
Employees must give advance notice that they intend to take time off. If you cannot provide advance notice because of emergency or unforeseen circumstances because of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, then you or your designee must give notice no later than the end of the first day of absence.
For campus staff, student employees and academic personnel:
Complete the Absence Request for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking (PDF).
For medical centers staff:
Contact your HRC with the following information:
- How much time you expect to be off work (be as specific as you can about dates)
- What type of paid time off (sick, vacation, etc.) you wish to use, if any
- What type of schedule you need and for how long, if you are requesting a reduced schedule
- How your manager can communicate with you during your absence
- Whether you need an alternate arrangement for receiving paychecks
Verification of need
To process your leave request, UW Medicine HR Operations may request verification that you or your family member is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking and that your absence was for one of the reasons described above.
You may provide, in a timely manner, one or more of the following as proof:
- Police report confirming that you or your family member was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking
- Court order protecting or separating you or your family member from the perpetrator
- Evidence from the court or the prosecuting attorney demonstrating that you or your family member appeared, or is scheduled to appear, in court in connection with an incident of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking
- Documentation from an attorney, victim advocate, member of the clergy, or a medical or other professional stating that you or your family member is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking
- Statement written by you explaining that you or your family member is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking and in need of assistance
If the victim is your family member, we may also request proof of a family relationship. You may provide any of the following:
- Written statement from you
- Birth certificate
- Court document
- Other similar documentation
Pay options
You may choose whether to take your absence as paid, unpaid, or a combination of paid and unpaid time. To be paid, you may use your sick time off or other paid time off. You may also use compensatory time, personal holiday or holiday credit, if available.
Additionally, time off accruing staff may qualify for shared leave if they have exhausted their own paid time off balances. Please refer to the Shared Leave program for additional information. Faculty may qualify for paid sick leave.
Job and health insurance protection
After your leave is over, you will return to the same position or to an equivalent position, unless you were hired for a specific period, or hired to work only on a discrete project and that period or project has ended.
Your health insurance coverage, if applicable, continues during your absence.
Confidentiality
The University will treat the information you provided as confidential. Information will be disclosed only if:
- Requested or consented to by you
- Ordered by a court or administrative agency
- Required by federal or state law
Nonretaliation
Retaliation against any employee for seeking or taking time off related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking is prohibited.
Notification of protective orders
If you are concerned about potential violence at work, or if you have obtained a protection order that includes UW locations, provide a copy of the order to the UW Police. Call 206-685-UWPD (8973) for non-emergencies.
Resources
Refer to UW’s policy on workplace violence for information about campus resources and support services.
APS 46.8 Domestic Violence in the Workplace and Reasonable Accommodations and Leave Related to Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking