Boise State provides unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying events under the Family and Medical Leave Act Policy (FMLA). FMLA eligibility starts after 12 months of employment with the State of Idaho, and the employee has worked at least 1,250 hours at Boise State University within the last 12 months.
FMLA allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave within a rolling 12-month period for the following reasons:
- The birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care;
- Serious health condition (yourself, spouse, child, or parent)
- A qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that your spouse, son or daughter, or parent is on covered active duty or call to covered active duty status with the Armed Forces;
- You are the spouse, son or daughter, parent, or next of kin of a covered service member with a serious injury or illness.
How to Apply
If you anticipate being absent for five or more consecutive days, or intermittently due to your own health or to care for an immediate family member, please email hrfmla@boisestate.edu at least 30 days before your leave begins, or as soon as possible if the need is foreseeable. FMLA requests are required, even if you have enough leave or if your absence is work-related. We will provide additional information and determine your eligibility for FMLA.
What if I need to utilize leave without pay?
An employee requesting leave without pay in excess of five (5) consecutive working days must obtain advanced approval.
Request for leave without pay less than 5 days should be coordinated with your immediate Supervisor.
How do I request leave without pay?
Complete the required Leave Without Pay form, and submit it to Employee Relations at hrfmla@boisestate.edu, noting one or more of the following criteria as the basis for the request:
- Continuing education in a position-related field;
- Professional development (not employment competing with current position);
- Spouse/Partner temporary employment or deployment; or
- Unique employee circumstance (explanation should be provided)
What happens to my medical plan benefits when I’m on leave without pay?
During leave without pay, the employee’s medical premiums and/or eligibility for health insurance may be impacted. Depending on the hours worked in a pay period during which the leave without pay is taken, an employee may be responsible for all or a part of the employee and employer portion of their medical plan premiums.
What if I am unable to pay for my medical plan premiums while on leave without pay?
If an employee is unable to cover the employee portion of their medical plan premium, the employee will become ineligible for their medical plan coverage. Employees should contact Human Resources and Workforce Strategy for more information.
More information can be found on the Office of Group Insurance’s website. For leave without pay, review the following:
- Leave + Cobra webpage
- HR & Payroll Resources webpage (look for the ‘leave and self-pay flow chart’ and the ‘leave without pay’ section)
- Premiums & Deductibles Rates webpage (look for current fiscal year’s ‘bi-weekly medical and dental premiums’)
If you encounter access barriers or require the content in another format, please contact the Benefits team at benefits@boisestate.edu or (208) 426-1616.
Workers’ Compensation
FMLA is an unpaid leave; however, eligible employees must use accrued sick leave, annual leave, or comp time to receive pay during their approved absence. If the employee’s serious health condition is linked to a work-related injury or illness, Workers’ Compensation may also provide payment during the FMLA-covered leave. Workers’ Compensation is a no-fault insurance program that offers medical treatment and partial wage replacement for employees who experience injuries or illnesses related to their job. Coverage begins on the employee’s first day of work.
In the event that a work-related injury results in an absence from work, please contact Human Resources regarding benefits available during the absence, including Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), paid leave, and other benefits.
For more information or any questions about worker’s compensation coverage, please contact Risk Management at (208) 426-3636 or rmi@boisestate.edu. @adm.idaho.gov.