Temporary Staff

Earned Sick Leave for Temporary Employees

Eligibility and Rate of Accrual:

All temporary employees hired through Boston University payroll, whose primary place of work is in Massachusetts, accrue earned sick leave through working at a rate of one (1) hour of earned Sick Leave for every thirty (30) hours of work, including overtime hours, up to forty (40) hours per calendar year. Temporary employees begin accruing earned Sick Leave on their first day worked and may begin to use their earned Sick Leave 90 calendar days after the date of hire regardless of the number of days worked during the 90 calendar day period.

For purposes of earned Sick Leave accrual, calendar year runs from January 1st to December 31st. At the end of the calendar year, a temporary employee may carry over up to 40 hours of unused earned Sick Leave to the next calendar year.

Temporary employees maintain their regular pay, but do not accrue additional Sick Leave, while absent from work on Sick Leave.

Use of Earned Sick Leave:

Earned Sick Leave may be used for:

  1. Care for the temporary employee’s child, spouse, parent, or parent of a spouse, who is suffering from a physical or mental illness, injury, or medical condition that requires home care, professional medical diagnosis or care, or preventative medical care;
  2. Care for the temporary employee’s own physical or mental illness, injury, or medical condition that requires home care, professional medical diagnosis or care, or preventative medical care;
  3. Attending the temporary employee’s routine medical appointment or a routine medical appointment for the temporary employee’s child, spouse, parent, or parent of spouse;
  4. Addressing the psychological, physical or legal effects of domestic violence; or,
  5. Travel to and from an appointment, a pharmacy, or other location related to the purpose for which the time was taken.

Where a temporary employee’s use of earned Sick Leave requires the University to hire a replacement or call in another employee, and the University does so, the temporary employee may be required to use an equal number of hours as the replacement or call-in employee works, up to a full shift of earned Sick Leave.

Notice of Use of Earned Sick Leave:

Temporary employees shall make a good faith effort to provide notice of the need to use earned Sick Leave to their immediate supervisor as soon as practicable. The immediate supervisor must be notified that a temporary employee is unable to report to work due to illness as soon as possible, but not less than one-half (1/2) hour after the start of the workday.

If the reason for the temporary employee’s use of Sick Leave is for a pre-scheduled or foreseeable absence, they must notify their supervisor at least seven (7) workdays in advance of the time off. The seven-day requirement may be shortened in emergency situations.

Temporary employees who are absent for more than one (1) day must notify their supervisor on each day they are absent or at intervals requested by the supervisor.

Documentation of Use:

For any absences greater than 24 consecutive work hours, temporary employees must submit appropriate documentation evidencing the need for the use of earned sick leave within 30 days of having taken the sick leave. Documentation may also be required in cases when an employee has four (4) unforeseeable and undocumented absences within a 3-month period. Documentation for the use of Sick Leave will be in accordance with M.G.L. c. 149, § 148C and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Temporary employees are not compensated for accrued but unused Sick Leave at the time their engagement with Boston University terminates.

Break in Service

Temporary employees maintain the right to use any accrued earned Sick Leave up to 40 hours after a break in service of up to one year from the last date of actual work.

Discipline

A temporary employee committing fraud or abuse by engaging in an activity that is not consistent with allowable purposes for earned sick time under M.G.L. c. 149, § 148C may be subject to discipline for misuse of Sick Leave.

A temporary employee exhibiting a clear pattern of taking leave on days just before or after a weekend, vacation, or holiday may be subject to discipline for misuse of Sick Leave, unless the employee provides verification of authorized use under M.G.L. c. 149, § 148C.