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Request for Paid Leave

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The purpose of filing a Request for Paid Leave is to allow employees to designate whether or not they wish to use any of their accrued leave while taking time off from work due to an on-the-job injury or disease. You should work with employees to complete this form even if they intend to use their accrued leave and don’t plan to receive a workers’ compensation check.

When to Complete a Request for Paid Leave

You should promptly file a Request for Paid Leave as follows:

  • Complete and submit the form as soon as an employee with a work-related injury or disease begins to lose time from work
  • Make sure you consult with the employee before completing the Request for Paid Leave, and be sure to complete the form even if the employee doesn't plan to receive a compensation check

How to Explain Paid-leave Options to Employees

When employees begin to lose time from work due to work-related injuries or diseases, they have two options: they may go on leave without pay and receive weekly workers' compensation payments (TIBs), or they may remain on the university payroll by using some or all of their accrued leave. As employees decide which option is best for them, you should explain the following details of each option.

Using Accrued Leave

  • Employees must exhaust their sick leave first if they elect to use paid leave—once sick leave has been exhausted, they may then choose to use one or more weeks of other paid leave in lieu of receiving TIBs
  • TIBs are never payable as long as an employee is using paid leave

Using TIBs

  • If employees don't have any accrued leave to use or elect to save their accrued leave, they will be placed on leave without pay
  • Workers' compensation benefits will begin following a seven-day waiting period, provided the inability to work is medically substantiated
  • When employees are on leave without pay for any reason, they are not eligible for the state's contribution toward insurance premiums unless they continue to participate by paying the required premiums or are granted Family Medical Leave
  • Employees' credit toward Teacher Retirement System and longevity programs may be affected depending upon how long the disability lasts and whether or not they return to work
  • Workers' compensation weekly benefits are calculated at 70% of an employee's average weekly wage—these benefits are calculated at 60% for part-time employees, and at 75% for employees who earn less than $8.50/hour for up to 26 weeks
  • There is a maximum weekly benefit amount, which may make workers' compensation weekly benefits less attractive or unfeasible for employees accustomed to higher salary levels—you should check the The University of Texas System workers' comp Web site to figure out what the current weekly maximum is for workers' compensation benefits

How to Complete a Request for Paid Leave Form

You should complete and submit the Request for Paid Leave form via *WCMENU, using command S23. On the automated form, be sure to designate whether the employee wishes to use paid leave or to receive TIBs. If you want help completing the form, you can download a *WCMENU user's guide.

Wondering what you should do if you don’t have access to the *WCMENU application? Have your WCI representative complete the form for now, and learn how to gain authorization for *WCMENU for use in the future.