Extended leave encompasses forms of leave with or without pay that last longer than 15 consecutive workdays. Extended leave may be provided for medical (self and family), parental, military and personal reasons.

Please note: When an employee uses vacation leave and compensatory leave to cover an absence of more than 15 consecutive workdays for personal reasons, in keeping with the university's vacation and compensatory leave policies, the employee will not be considered to be on an “extended leave,” so long as the employee has sufficient vacation and compensatory leave to remain in full pay status.

The University of Florida's extended leave of absence policy incorporates at a minimum that which is required by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, or FMLA (see UF Extended Leave of Absence Policy Chart).

Upon return from an extended leave, including FMLA leave, an employee will be returned to the same position or a position in the same classification unless he or she and the university have agreed in writing otherwise.

Employees may use their individually accrued paid leave, be in leave without pay status, maintain reduced work schedules, or be absent from work intermittently while on many forms of extended leaves of absence. As appropriate, all of the above will count against the 12 weeks of an employee's FMLA entitlement.

Required Paperwork

• Extended Leave of Absence Form
• Certification of Healthcare Provider for Employee’s Serious Health Condition
• Certification of Healthcare Provider for Family Member’s Serious Health Condition