Leave of Absence

Absences greater than five business days* require an employee to go through the leave request process. Below is a detailed listing of reasons that an employee may request a leave of absence.

Leave Types

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA**): Employees may request FMLA leave for their own serious medical condition, a covered family member’s serious medical condition, or parental leave***. FMLA leave provides job protection and benefit continuation up to 12 weeks for employees that have at least one year of service and work at least 1250 hours per year. 

Personal Leave:  Employees may request personal leave when the need to be out of work is for personal reasons not covered under FMLA or STD.  Personal leave is granted at the discretion of the University and may have an impact on your benefits.

Administrative Leave: May only be initiated by University Human Resources.

Special Assignment: Employees may request special assignment leave for up to three or six months. Special leave may only be granted when the assignment will be of value to Brown.

* This does not include pre-approved vacation time off.
** This is Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave (RIPFML) – RI state law similar to FMLA, but offers 13 weeks of protection and runs concurrent with FMLA.
*** Birth of child, adoption, foster, and bonding.

Documentation While on a Leave of Absence

Leave requests require some form of documentation. Please see the documentation requirements by leave type below:

Family Medical Leave Act

Personal Leave

You must provide a detailed formal written request to your manager, HR Business Partner, and Employee and Labor Relations team member from which you must receive a formal approval letter.

If required, a Healthcare Certification Form is completed by the care provider and should be faxed to:

University Human Resources  
Attn: Absence Specialist
 Fax: 401-863-2830

**** Employees returning from leave for their own serious medical condition must provide a return to work note to their manager prior to performing any work. This note must be completed by the care provider.

Pay While on a Leave of Absence 

Leaves of absence are unpaid. However, employees may elect to use accrued time off during leave to continue pay. Employees may also be eligible to apply for state benefits. Time off may be requested concurrently with a leave of absence as outlined below:

Family Medical Leave Act

Employee’s own medical condition: 

  • Sick time off
  • Vacation time off

​Care for a seriously ill parent, spouse, or child:

  • Sick time off (up to 12 days)
  • Vacation time off

Birth of child, adoption, foster, bonding: 

  • Sick time off
  • Vacation time off
  • Parental Leave Benefit (eligible employees)

Personal Leave

  • Vacation time off

Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) / Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI)
Rhode Island employees***** may file a claim with RI state to receive benefit payments if on leave for their own medical condition (TDI) or to care for a covered family member (TCI).  

Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) - Employee’s own medical condition:

  • May provide up to 60% of an employee’s salary while medically unable to work
  • Maximum weekly benefit rate of $887 (subject to change)
  • May provide up to 30 weeks of payment (with continued medical support)
  • Is not subject to federal and state income tax

Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) - Care for a covered family member:

  • May provide up to 60% of an employee’s salary
  • Maximum weekly benefit rate of $887 (subject to change)
  • May provide up to 4 weeks of payment in a benefit year period
  • Are subject to federal and state income tax

***** New York based employees may be eligible for New York State Disability Insurance and/or Paid Family Leave benefits .  California based employees may be eligible for California State Disability Insurance Program benefits.