{"id":529,"date":"2025-12-09T13:24:33","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T21:24:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/?page_id=529"},"modified":"2026-06-27T17:12:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T00:12:53","slug":"leave-without-pay-policy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/faculty-leaves\/leave-without-pay-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Leave without pay"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/faculty-leaves\/leave-without-pay-policy\/#Overview\" >Overview<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/faculty-leaves\/leave-without-pay-policy\/#Consecutive-quarter-limits\" >Consecutive quarter limits<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/faculty-leaves\/leave-without-pay-policy\/#Considerations-and-exclusions\" >Considerations and exclusions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/faculty-leaves\/leave-without-pay-policy\/#Application-and-review\" >Application and review<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/faculty-leaves\/leave-without-pay-policy\/#Frequently-asked-questions\" >Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Overview\"><\/span>Overview<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Leave without pay is a temporary reduced-pay status and absence from duty, which is sometimes termed \u201cLWOP\u201d or \u201cunpaid leave.\u201d The information on this page applies to leave without pay that is discretionary and not an entitlement such as a leave associated with FMLA. LWOP may be full-time with no pay or part-time with the individual\u2019s pay temporarily reduced commensurate with the duration and percentage of approved leave.<\/p>\n<p>Faculty may use LWOP for a variety of reasons, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Personal reasons (e.g., family obligations or pursuing interests relevant to job duties and responsibilities)<\/li>\n<li>Parental leave where FMLA is not applicable<\/li>\n<li>Family care leave in circumstances where FMLA is not applicable<\/li>\n<li>When state or federal leave entitlements are not applicable or have been exhausted and faculty member needs continued leave<\/li>\n<li>Paid sick time off allotment has been exhausted<\/li>\n<li>Medical condition does not qualify for use of paid sick leave<\/li>\n<li>As a form of disability accommodation, determined and approved in the course of the interactive process with the Disability Services Office (DSO) and the faculty member\u2019s unit<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washington.edu\/research\/compliance\/outside-professional-work-for-compensation-form-1460\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Outside Professional Work<\/a> as approved by the department and the Office of Research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Consecutive-quarter-limits\"><\/span>Consecutive quarter limits<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Faculty with a 9-month service period (Sept 16-June 15) are limited to 6 consecutive quarters of LWOP. Faculty with a 12-month service period (July 1-June 30) are limited to 8 consecutive quarters of LWOP. Consecutive quarters are those that \u2018touch\u2019, for instance, Autumn\/Winter or Winter\/Spring. For 9-month faculty, Spring\/Autumn would be considered consecutive quarters. For 12-month faculty, consecutive quarters would also include Spring\/Summer and Summer\/Autumn.<\/p>\n<p>LWOP, of any duration or percentage, taken within a given quarter counts against the consecutive quarter limit. For instance, a leave from October 1 through November 30\u2013while less than a full quarter\u2013would count as one quarter against the consecutive quarter limit. LWOP that crosses academic quarters will count as two quarters against the consecutive quarter limit. For example, a LWOP between March 1 and April 1 touches both Winter and Spring Quarters and would, therefore, count as two quarters against the consecutive quarter limit.<\/p>\n<p>A faculty member who has exhausted their consecutive leave eligibility is expected to return for a minimum of one full academic year before requesting additional leave. A request for LWOP beyond the consecutive quarter limit requires advance review and approval prior to initiating the Workday business process. Units should work with the <a href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/dso\/contacts\/\">Disability Services Office<\/a> for requests based on medical needs, and with their <a href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/contact-us\/hr-consultant-list\/\">human resources consultant<\/a> for all other reasons.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Considerations-and-exclusions\"><\/span>Considerations and exclusions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Mandatory review \u2013<\/strong> Leave without pay for personal reasons is generally not permitted in the year the faculty member is going through mandatory review for promotion and\/or tenure. Leave without pay in prior years may impact a faculty member\u2019s mandatory review date.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Parental leave without pay \u2013<\/strong> For more details on parental leave without pay, please check with your unit. They may require that parental leave be taken as one continuous period of time away from work.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Patterns of use \u2013<\/strong> Leaves requested under this policy should not be used in a manner that changes the individual\u2019s fundamental appointment relationship with the UW. A pattern of recurring use that results in a non-temporary, alternate work arrangement (e.g., leave every Spring quarter) would not be appropriate.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reduced Responsibility \u2013<\/strong> Faculty with an obligation to fund all or part of their base salary, who experience a lapse in funding, would go into Reduced Responsibility status as provided for in GIM 38 with the intent of eventually returning to their full roster percent.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sabbatical leave \u2013<\/strong> sabbatical or professional leave is not a LWOP and, therefore, does not count against the consecutive quarter limit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sponsored visas \u2013<\/strong> Employees on UW-sponsored visas may have limitations on their eligibility for LWOP, depending on the visa type. Please see pages below for more detail:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ap.washington.edu\/ahr\/visas\/admin-resources\/j1\/j1-reporting-requirements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">J-1 Reporting Requirements<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ap.washington.edu\/ahr\/visas\/admin-resources\/h1b\/reporting-requirements-h1b\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">H-1B Reporting Requirements<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Application-and-review\"><\/span>Application and review<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>To apply, the individual requesting LWOP will complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/uwnetid.sharepoint.com\/sites\/uwhr_web_document_library\/Shared Documents\/faculty-unpaid-leave-of-absence-request-form-20260128-a11y.pdf\">Faculty Unpaid Leave Of Absence Request Form (PDF)<\/a>\u00a0as instructed and submit it to their unit who will coordinate review, approvals, and <a href=\"https:\/\/employeehelp.workday.uw.edu\/user-guides\/loa_leave_without_pay\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">processing in Workday<\/a>. LWOP requests are reviewed by the chair\/director\/campus dean; if supported, the request goes to the dean\/chancellor who will review and have final approval authority except in cases where exceptional review by the Office for Academic Personnel and Faculty (APF) is required.<\/p>\n<p>Whenever possible, requests should be submitted at least 30 calendar days before the proposed leave begins. A separate form is needed for each unique leave event.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently-asked-questions\"><\/span>Frequently asked questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>How does LWOP impact my appointment?<\/strong><br \/>\nLWOP does not permanently alter the regular appointment. LWOPs are temporary reductions in FTE, and academic appointees are expected to return to their regular roster percent (e.g., contracted effort defined in their appointment letter) at the conclusion of their LWOP.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Will taking LWOP affect my benefits?<\/strong><br \/>\nLWOP may impact benefits eligibility. For questions regarding benefits, contact the UW Benefits Office.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Can I take parental leave without pay?<\/strong><br \/>\nLWOP may be taken for parental leave when FMLA is not applicable.<br \/>\nParental leave without pay should be discussed with your unit, as they may require the leave to be taken as one continuous period of absence from work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The information on this page applies to leave without pay that is discretionary and not an entitlement such as a leave associated with FMLA. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"parent":1522,"menu_order":40,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","slim_seo":{"title":"Leave without pay - Time and Absence","description":"The information on this page applies to leave without pay that is discretionary and not an entitlement such as a leave associated with FMLA."},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-529","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=529"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/529\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1533,"href":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/529\/revisions\/1533"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/time-absence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}