Expanded access to paid sick leave and new reproductive loss leave

The University of California has expanded access to paid sick leave for certain staff and academic employees who were previously ineligible and introduced new protections for those using paid sick leave, as well as leave following a reproductive loss. Effective January 1, 2025, these changes reflect UC's commitment to providing meaningful benefits that help employees balance their personal and professional responsibilities.

What’s Changing?

Expanded Paid Sick Leave:

• New eligibility: Part-time employees and those in non-sick leave accruing titles (e.g., per diem staff and some academic appointees) will now have access to paid sick leave.
• Protected sick leave: Employees can designate up to six days per year of their sick leave as protected, prohibiting any form of retaliation or discrimination for its use (see definition on UCnet). Your protected paid sick leave balance will be displayed in UCPath.
• Extended reinstatement: Sick leave balances will be reinstated if an employee returns to UC employment within 12 months of separation, unless the balance was converted to retirement credit.

Reproductive Loss Leave:

• Employees experiencing a reproductive loss (e.g., miscarriage, stillbirth, failed adoption, or unsuccessful assisted reproduction) are eligible for up to five days of leave within three months of the event.
• Please direct any questions to your Leave of Absence representative via this AggieService form.

Tracking and Timekeeping

Employees will track requested protected sick leave in their designated timekeeping system.

• TRS (Davis Campus): Updates have not been completed for leave reporting. Employees must follow a temporary process while TRS is being updated.
• Ecotime (UC Davis Health, School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Nursing): Updates are ready for leave reporting.

For more details, including FAQs, visit the HR website.