If you're an NIU employee, you're eligible to earn sick and vacation time at a certain rate, and the university may provide you with additional sick time each year. You also have paid time off when the university closes for holidays or administrative closures (some employees are required to work).
In addition, you have access to several types of leaves. These are reasons you might need time off that are protected by the law or NIU policy. Some are paid, while others are unpaid.
You may be able to take bereavement leave when a relative dies. The number of days you can take, as well as whether the leave is paid or unpaid, depends on your relationship to the person who died and your employment status at NIU. Learn more about bereavement leave.
As specified in the Organ Donor Leave Act (5 ILCS 327), you may be granted paid leave time for donating blood or blood platelets. You must be a permanent full- or part-time employee who has been employed for at least six months.
You should arrange a time for the donation that works for both you and your department. You must request approval for the leave from your immediate supervisor, as far in advance as possible.
You may receive up to one or more hours of paid leave once every 56 days to donate blood. You may receive up to two or more hours of paid leave to donate platelets in accordance with recognized standards, not to exceed 24 times in a 12-month period.
You're not required to use accrued sick or vacation time before requesting this leave.
You can request educational or personal leave by completing the Request for Leave of Absence Form (PDF). If you're a faculty member, please review the Extension of the Tenure Probationary Period Policy.
Contact Human Resource Services at 815-753-6000 to discuss the impact the leave might have on your insurance benefits.
As specified in the Illinois Election Code (10 ILCS 5), you can request unpaid leave for serving as an Illinois election judge. You must request the leave at least 20 days before the election. You may use accrued vacation or personal time for the unpaid leave, if your supervisor approves.
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows you to take several weeks of unpaid leave for personal or family reasons. You must meet eligibility requirements, and you have certain responsibilities regarding the leave. Learn more about FMLA.
An employee may qualify for Illness Leave when they have exhausted all their FMLA entitlement, or they do not qualify for FMLA and must be off work for their own serious health condition or to care for a member of their immediate family or household with a serious health condition. While it can be an approved medical leave of absence from the university, Illness Leave does not provide the same federally covered job protections as FMLA.
Employees that are on Illness leave for their own serious health condition can be on medical leave for a total of 24 months. The 24-month period begins the first day of continuous absence even when that time is covered by FMLA and ends at the approval of SURS disability benefits or when the 24 months have been exhausted, whichever is earlier. Employees that are on Illness leave to care for a member of their immediate family or household can be on Illness leave for as long as they have accrued benefits (sick and/or vacation) and non-accumulative sick time available.
Illness Leave can be a paid leave with the utilization of available sick time (including applicable non-accumulative leave) and/or vacation time unless otherwise specified in Collective Bargaining Agreements. The Illness Leave for self may also be unpaid if the employee has exhausted all benefit time.
While on Illness leave, Employees remain eligible for Central Management Services (CMS) health, dental and life insurance benefits per CMS procedures and may have to pay their premiums directly to CMS if not receiving a paycheck from NIU (Illness Leave for self only).
The employee should use the FMLA Request Form when requesting a medically necessary leave and a leave coordinator will make the determination on qualifications for FMLA and/or Illness Leave upon receipt. Similar to FMLA, the employee is required to provide medical certification to document the serious health condition pursuant to university procedures. Any employee who exhausts FMLA leave during an approved medically certified period will be switched to Illness Leave automatically by their leave coordinator.
You may be eligible for military leave. Learn more in the policy on Military Leaves of Absence - Response to Military Operations Concerning. If you're a faculty member, please review the Extension of the Tenure Probationary Period Policy. In regards to time off, please review the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
You must submit a copy of your official military orders to Human Resource Services before your leave begins.
As specified in the Organ Donor Leave Act (5 ILCS 327), you may be granted paid leave time for donating an organ or bone marrow. You must be a permanent full- or part-time employee who has been employed for at least six months. You must submit medical documentation of the proposed donation to your department as far in advance as possible.
You may receive up to 30 calendar days of paid leave in a 12-month period for the donation of an organ or bone marrow. You can't use holidays to extend your leave.
You're not required to use accrued sick or vacation time before requesting this leave.
You may be eligible to receive five weeks (25 working days) of continuous paid leave for the birth of a child, or the placement of a child in your care through adoption or foster care. Your child's primary and/or coequal caregiver are eligible for this leave. Learn more about parental leave.
In accordance with Illinois Public Act 102-1143, known as the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, the university has established the State of Illinois Paid Leave Benefit program that provides eligible employees with up to 40 hours of paid leave from work each year to maintain their health and well-being, care for their families, or use for any other reason of their choosing. Learn more about this leave benefit.
You may be eligible for State Universities Retirement System (SURS) disability benefits if you become physically or mentally incapacitated and are unable to perform your job duties for more than 60 days.
To learn more about disability benefits, read the SURS disability FAQ. You can also call SURS at 1-800-275-7877. If you're a faculty member, you may wish to review the Extension of the Tenure Probationary Period Policy.
To apply for disability benefits, contact Human Resource Services at 815-753-6000.
You can receive release time for a counseling appointment with the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). You'll receive release time for the appointment (generally one hour) and travel (if necessary), without losing wages or using benefits. You can attend an appointment on or off campus, or conduct a session over the phone. SURS usually visits campus once a year.
In order to be eligible for an appointment, you must be eligible to retire within four years. You can attend one appointment every 12 months.
If you or a member of your family or household is a victim of domestic or sexual violence, you can take time off through the State Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA). VESSA provides you with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in any 12-month period to take the following actions for yourself or your family or household member:
If you're a faculty member, you may wish to review the Extension of the Tenure Probationary Period Policy.
Per the Huskies Give Back program, you can receive up to one day of paid time off to volunteer with approved organizations.
As specified in 10 ILCS 5/17-15, NIU must allow you release time to vote on Election Day. The following criteria must be met:
The polls are open in Illinois from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., so most employees will have time to vote before or after work. However, if you meet the above criteria, you may receive up to two hours of release time during polling hours. Your department may consider operational needs when scheduling the release time.
If you need to take time off due to a work-related accident or injury, you can apply for workers' compensation benefits. If your claim is approved, you may be compensated for lost wages and medical expenses. Learn more about Workers' Compensation.