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Overview & Eligibility

Section 500

The college supports your overall health and well-being and your need to balance the challenges of work and family by offering generous time-off benefits and leave plans which are designed to:

  • assist you in meeting the financial burdens that can result if you are absent from work due to illness, injury, or family emergency;
  • offer you opportunities for paid periods of rest and relaxation;
  • provide you with salary and benefit continuation in the event of childbirth or adoption, death in the family, or call to jury or military service;
  • afford opportunities for unpaid time away from work to meet family or personal needs.

The college's time-off benefits and leave plans are integrated with and designed to enhance legally mandated benefits. They represent a substantial investment on the part of the college.

The college will normally apply the policies and follow the procedures summarized here. However, because no two employment situations are exactly alike, the college may modify the policies to address specific circumstances. Any such modifications must have the approval of the Associate Vice President for Human Resources or the Human Resources Manager of Employee Relations and Recruitment. The college reserves the right to make, from time to time, such changes in policies as it considers in the best interests of the Smith College community.

Eligibility

Eligibility for time-off benefits and leave plans is associated with the type of position you hold. Please refer to Employment Categories for more detailed information on positions at the college. The following summary and eligibility charts are provided as a quick reference of benefit eligibility. Be sure to consult each leave plan description for more detailed information (including statutory requirements, waiting periods, etc.) regarding your eligibility.

Plan (1)
Regular
(2)
Limited-term 3+ Years
(3)
Limited Term 1–3 Years
(4)
Temp and/or Less Than Half Time and/or CASUALS
Holidays x x x Leave but no pay
Personal Time x x x no
Vacation x x x no
Sick Leave x x x x
Sick Leave Bank* x x no no
Bereavement Leave x x x no
Jury Duty Leave x x x x
Military Reserve/Differential Pay x x Leave but no differential pay Leave but no differential pay
Parental/Adoption Leave* x x x no (Eligible for MA PFML)
Family Leave* x x no no
Family Medical Leave Act* x x x Eligible for unpaid leave
Small Necessities x x x Eligible for unpaid leave
Short-Term Absence Without Pay x x x x
Leave Without Pay* x no no no
Long-Term Disability x x x no
Workers' Compensation x x x x
Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave x x x x

NOTE: Time-off benefits are prorated for eligible employees who work less than full time.

*Waiting period may apply

**For less than half-time only and casual employees only