Benefits

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The Catastrophic Leave Donation (CLD) Program allows for the donation and receipt of vacation and sick leave credits between all eligible university employees. Any employee who accrues sick leave and/or vacation credits is eligible to either receive catastrophic leave donations, or make donations toward to the program.

Donated leave may be used by an eligible employee who has a catastrophic illness or injury and has exhausted all leave credits normally available to cover the required absence from work. The CLD program may also apply in situations where an employee needs to be absent from work due to a catastrophic illness or injury of an immediate family member. Employees who are eligible for Non-Industrial Disability (NDI), must apply for NDI to be eligible to apply for the CLD.

A catastrophic illness/ injury is one that has totally incapacitated an employee from work. Conditions which are short term in nature (for example: flu, measles, common illnesses, common injuries, etc.,) are not covered. Chronic illnesses which result in intermittent absences from work may be considered (for example: cancer, AIDS, major surgery). Generally speaking, such chronic illnesses or injuries must be considered both long term in nature and require long term recuperation periods. A medical verification is required when applying for CDL.

An illness or injury may also include an incapacitated member of the employee’s family. If the employee is required to take an extended period of time off to care for the family member, and the employee has exhausted all of their accrued vacation and sick leave credits which may be used for family care in accordance with the appropriate Collective Bargaining Agreement, then the employee may apply for CDL. Only donated vacation credits may be used for care of a family member.

Donated leave credits may be used to supplement payments from Non-Industrial Disability Leave, Industrial Disability Leave or Temporary Disability Leave and may be coordinated with the Family Medical Leave Act (as applicable).

The total amount of leave credits donated and used may not exceed an amount sufficient to ensure the continuance of the employee’s regular monthly rate of compensation.

Employees may donate leave credits, or request Catastrophic Leave, by contacting the Benefits office at 619-594-1144.