Time Away From Work

Paid time off

Paid time off is part of your overall benefits package. It is important to take time off from work to relax and do what you love to do. To help you accomplish this goal, the University provides benefit-eligible employees working at least 20 hours or more for five months or longer with sick leave and annual leave*, in addition to 11 observed holidays.

*Faculty and professional employees working on 9- or 10-month academic year contracts do not earn annual leave.

The documents below show the accrual rates for both sick and annual leave and the observed holidays.

Sick and Annual Leave

Sick Leave
Annual Leave

Family and Medical Leave

The Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) grants eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid job/benefits protected leave in a rolling 12-month period. Employees anticipating an absence of five or more consecutive days related to personal or immediate family illness should contact Human Resources regarding FMLA. FMLA should be requested even if an employee has sufficient leave to cover the absence, or if the absence is due to a work-related injury, and even if they have arranged coverage for teaching classes and other job duties.

Boise State Paid Parental Leave

Eligible faculty can request and receive up to eight weeks of paid leave following the birth or adoption of a child to provide time off. Paid Parental Leave is available to regular, benefit-eligible employees who have been employed with the University and/or the State of Idaho for at least 12 months during the past seven years. If a faculty member does not meet the eligibility for paid parental leave, they still are eligible for workload release. See Paid Parental Leave policy for additional requirements and information.

Faculty Leave for Birth/Adoption and Workload Release Plan

The Faculty Leave for Birth/Adoption and Workload Release Plan Policy, provides all eligible faculty, eight (8) weeks paid time off related to birth or adoption of a child. If the faculty member wishes to take additional time off, they may use their personal sick and vacation leave in order to take up to 6 additional weeks off. FMLA must be used concurrently with the Parental Leave when applicable. A faculty member with teaching responsibilities would work with their department and dean to determine their Workload Release which would release them from one full teaching load during a single semester.

Faculty will return to full workload for a period of at least one (1) year after Parental Leave and Workload Release.

See Faculty Workload Release policy for additional requirements and information.

Short and Long-Term Disability

When you are unable to work because of a non-work related injury or illness (including pregnancy), you may be eligible for disability income benefits. Disability benefits can provide a source of continuing income while you are unable to work. All benefit-eligible employees are automatically covered by disability insurance through the State of Idaho, with premiums paid by the University.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ Compensation is a no-fault insurance that provides medical treatment and partial wage replacement for covered workers whose injury or illness arose out of and in the course of employment.