Time-Off & Leave
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Time-Off
Time away from work is essential to your health, well‑being and work‑life balance. The university offers a variety of paid and unpaid time‑off options to support employees during planned time away, personal and family needs, illness and unexpected life events.
This page provides an overview of available time‑off benefits and links to detailed policies and procedures.
What’s Included
Depending on your position and employment category, your time‑off benefits may include:
- Vacation
- Sick leave
- University holidays
- Personal leave
- Parental leave
- Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
- Military leave
- Jury duty and voting leave
- Bereavement leave
- Other leaves with or without pay
Some types of time off are required by law, while others are provided as part of the university’s benefits package. Note: Each year on December 31st, an annual leave adjustment ensures that employees do not carry forward more than two times the amount the employee is currently eligible to accrue. Visit the Leave Adjustment webpage to learn more.
Types of Time Off
Vacation
Vacation time allows you to take planned time away from work for rest, relaxation or personal matters.
Sick Leave
Sick leave may be used for your own illness or medical appointments, as well as certain family care needs, as outlined in policy.
Holidays
The university observes designated holidays each year. When university operations are closed, eligible employees receive holiday pay or equivalent time off.
Parental Leave
Parental leave supports employees following the birth, adoption or placement of a child, subject to eligibility requirements.
Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
FMLA provides eligible employees with job‑protected leave for qualifying medical and family reasons. FMLA may run concurrently with paid leave, depending on circumstances.
Other Leaves
Additional time‑off options may include military leave, jury duty, bereavement leave, personal leave without pay and other special leaves as defined by policy.
How to Request Time Off
Most time off requires advance approval from your supervisor. Some types of leave may require documentation or coordination with Human Resources. To request time off, employees should:
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1Review the applicable policy
Review the applicable policy for eligibility and usage rules.
Review the policies about -
2Submit requests through Workday.Sign in to Workday about
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3Communicate with your team
Communicate early when possible, especially for planned or extended absences.
Need help?
If you have questions about your time‑off benefits or need help determining which type of leave applies to your situation, contact us at leaveadm@louisville.edu.
Policies
For complete information, including definitions, accrual schedules and procedures, review the following:
- Sick Leave – General Policy
- Annual Vacation Leave – General Policy
- Holiday Leave – University Holiday Calendar
- Voting Leave
- Jury Duty Leave
- Bereavement Leave
- Other Leaves with Pay
- Personal Leave without Pay
- Family and Medical Leave
- Parental Leave
- Military Leave
Visit the Policies and Procedures webpage for university leave forms.