Leave of Absence
Leaves and Absences
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Policy
An employee absent beyond five consecutive workdays (except for pre-approved vacation) must apply for a formal leave of absence. Failure to do so constitutes grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), United ISD provides eligible employees with unpaid, job-protected leave for specific family, medical, or military reasons. This leave can be taken either continuously or on an intermittent basis. Find more information here.
FMLA Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for FMLA benefits, employees must meet both of the following criteria prior to the start of their leave:
- Must have been employed by UISD for a total of at least 12 months (does not need to be consecutive).
- Must have worked at least 1,250 hours of service (approximately 31¼ standard 40-hour workweeks) during the 12-month period immediately preceding the leave.
Qualifying Reasons for Leave
If you meet the eligibility requirements above, you can request leave for the following standard or military entitlements:
Standard Leave Entitlements
Up to 12 workweeks (60 workdays) in a 12-month period for:
- Your Own Serious Health Condition: A physical or mental illness, injury, or impairment that requires inpatient care or continuing treatment by a healthcare provider, rendering you unable to perform your job.
- Caring for a Family Member: Needing to care for a spouse, child (including those for whom you act as a parent), or parent who has a serious health condition.
- Family & Bonding Leave: Leave to care for a newborn or to bond with a child newly placed in your home via adoption or foster care. This leave must be taken within the first year of birth or placement.
- Qualifying Exigency Leave (Military): To manage urgent affairs arising from a family member's active duty or upcoming military deployment.
Military Caregiver Leave Entitlement
- Extended Military Care: Up to 26 workweeks of leave in a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member or veteran recovering from a serious injury or illness.
FMLA Application Process
To apply for FMLA leave, please submit the following required documentation to Human Resources:
- Leave Request: A completed Employee Request for Family Medical Leave (FMLA) Form.
- Medical Certification: The appropriate Certification of Health Care Provider Form:
You can upload your completed WHD form directly with your FMLA request. If you don't have it ready, you may submit it later via email (ramsantos@uisd.net or perla.aguilar@uisd.net) or in person to Human Resources.
Note: Your FMLA request will remain incomplete until the WHD form is filled out by your doctor and submitted.
Upon receiving the completed form, the District will notify the employee of their FMLA eligibility status within five business days via email, mail, or both.
Return-to-Work Process
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You must submit your return-to-work documentation 5 days before your return date. |
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If Leave Was For: |
Required Documentation: |
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Your Own Health Condition |
• A medical note explicitly stating the date you are cleared to return to work. • If returning with restrictions: Your provider must complete the UISD Medical Work Capabilities Form. |
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Caring for a Family Member |
• A completed Conclusion of Leave Form confirming that the period of care has ended and you are available to resume your regular work schedule. |
You may submit your completed return-to-work documentation via any of the following methods:
- 📧 Email: ramsantos@uisd.net or perla.aguilar@uisd.net
- 📠 Fax: 956-473-6303
- 🚶 In-Person: Drop off at the UISD Human Resources Office
- Address: 301 Lindenwood Drive, Laredo, Texas 78045
- Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Upon receipt of your return-to-work paperwork and the approval of any accommodations (if applicable), you will be returned to active status as outlined in board policy DEC(LEGAL)
FMLA Information & Guidelines
In accordance with the United States Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) the United Independent School District entitles eligible employees to take up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for specified family and medical reasons or for any “qualifying exigency” arising out of the fact that a covered military member is on active duty, or has been notified of an impending call or order to active duty, in support of a contingency operation. The FMLA also allows eligible employees to take up to 26 workweeks of job-protected leave in a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness.
To be eligible for FMLA benefits, an employee must: Have worked for the District for a total of 12 months, worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12-month period immediately before the date the leave would begin and be employed at a worksite where 50 or more employees are employed by the District within 75 miles of that worksite.
According to District Policy DEC (LOCAL), FMLA runs concurrently with accrued sick and personal leave, temporary disability leave, compensatory leave, assault leave, and absences due to work-related illness or injury. (Board Policy DEC (LOCAL) is available online, at work location, or HR).
If you are presently covered under the District health insurance plan, the insurance payments and benefits will remain the same while under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The District will pay the District’s portion while the employee pays the other portion. If you exhaust all State and Local personal days, the District will continue to pay the health premium portion. However, you will be responsible for paying the employee portion. If this occurs, you will need to make arrangements with the Payroll Deduction Assistant in the Payroll Department to pay the employee portion of the monthly healthcare premium. Premium payments must be submitted by the 20th of each month in order for the policy coverage to remain active.
Please complete this request, including the applicable Certification of Health Care Provider Form, which needs to be completed by your attending physician, and submit it to the Human Resources Department for processing and approval at least 30 days before the leave is to commence, when the need is foreseeable. When 30 days' notice is not possible, submit the request as early as practicable, and you must comply with the employer’s normal call-in procedures.
If you have any questions regarding the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), please feel free to call our office at (956) 473- 6273.
Other Forms Available