Sick leave

Sick leave allows you to care for yourself or a family member in cases of illness, preventive care, or to obtain assistance or guidance in stalking, sexual abuse, or domestic violence. Please advise your supervisor that you'll be out.

Full-time staff and library faculty accrue 12 days per year with no cap. If you’re out more than 3 days, documentation may be required.

Short term medical leave

Full-time staff and library faculty with six or more months of service are eligible for Short Term Medical Leave (STML). Short Term Medical Leave provides up to 26 weeks of income protection if you are unable to work due to a non-occupational illness or injury.

• Full-time staff and library faculty receive up to 100% of pay for up to 12 weeks after a one-week waiting period. The benefit received will be offset by any amount received from DC Paid Family Leave*.
• You may use accrued sick or annual leave during the one-week waiting period to receive pay.
• Paid benefits reduce from 100% to 75% of salary in weeks 14 through 26.
• Short Term Medical Leave runs concurrently with DC and Federal Family Medical Leave (FML) which provides unpaid job protection.
• Benefits continue until the earliest of:
  • The date you are no longer disabled, or
  • The date you reach the maximum benefit period.

AU automatically enrolls you in Short Term Medical Leave coverage at no cost to you. Coverage begins after six months of employment if you are a full-time staff member or library faculty. The maximum Short Term Medical Leave benefit payment period is six months, after which you may be eligible for Long Term Disability (LTD) coverage.

*DC Paid Family Leave pays a percentage of your salary. Use the DC Paid Family Leave Weekly Benefit Calculator to estimate your weekly benefit.

Long term disability

Long Term Disability (LTD) coverage replaces a portion of your monthly salary if you are unable to work due to illness or injury after a waiting period designed to follow after you have used your 180 days of Short Term Medical Leave.

• Full-time staff and library faculty receive 60% of pay**.
• The cost of Long Term Disability is based on your salary and is shared evenly by you and the university. You may not elect to drop Long Term Disability coverage; participation is required.
• Your retirement contributions continue while you are on Long Term Disability, up to 15%. If you participate in the retirement plan and are approved for Long Term Disability, your contributions will continue at no additional expense to you for up to 15% of your pre-disability earnings. You must be participating in the retirement plan prior to receiving LTD payments to receive this benefit. The insurance company will make the contributions directly to your TIAA and/or Fidelity accounts.
• The maximum benefit period is:
  • Up to age 65 or your normal Social Security retirement age
  • 24 months for mental/nervous and substance abuse disabilities

**LTD benefits are calculated using your current base annual salary prior to the date your disability begins. Only 50% of any benefit paid to you under the plan is taxable income to you as the premiums are shared by you and the university. Benefits are coordinated with disability benefits under other plans, such as Social Security and state disability programs.