The Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act (WFMLA) provide you with the right to take job-protected leave with continued medical benefits when you need time off from work to care for yourself or a family member who is seriously ill, to care for a newborn or newly adopted child, or to attend to the affairs of a family member who is called to active duty in the military.
Taking vacation or sick time on an unplanned basis may have negative employment consequences if absences become excessive. Therefore, apply for Family Medical Leave even if taking
vacation, sick, or another paid leave benefit. We want you to focus on taking care of yourself or your family and not worry about work!
Family and Medical Leave Quick Reference Guide for EmployeesTo learn more: 
UWS Family & Medical Leave Resources*
*Note: Please contact HR Employee Policies Specialist, Sierra Thomas, at sthomas@uwsp.edu, prior to downloading FMLA forms. This is necessary to verify FMLA eligibility and ensure you receive the correct FMLA forms for the type of leave requested and with the correct UWSP contact information.
If you are not eligible for Family & Medical Leave, you may be eligible for a leave of absence for medical reasons. Contact the HR Employee Policies Specialist to discuss.
Becoming a new parent?
Paid Parental Leave (PPL): Paid Parental Leave provides eligible employes with up to 6 (six) weeks of paid time off (pro-rated if part time) following a qualifying birth or adoptive event to allow for time to bond with their new child, adjust to their new family situation, and balance personal obligations that result from a birth or adoptive event. For more information on PPL and how to apply, please visit the Universities of Wisconsin Paid Parental Leave page. Request forms can be submitted to HR Employee Policies Specialist, Sierra Thomas, at sthomas@uwsp.edu. The policy can be viewed at UW System Administrative Policy 1221: Paid Parental Leave.
UW-Stevens Point is a covered employer under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). For more information on the PWFA and how it applies to you, please visit What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov).
For resources regarding Pregnancy, Nursing/Breastfeeding, and/or Parenting, see Pregnancy Parental Leave and Nursing-Breastfeeding Resource for UWSP Employees (and Students).
Schools and childcare:
Moving to the Point Area, see Schools and Childcare section.
For Leadership/Department:
Medical Compliance Quick Reference Guide for Leadership
To Apply or Additional Questions?
Contact HR Employee Policies Specialist, Sierra Thomas, at sthomas@uwsp.edu for guidance.
Military Leave
If a leave is needed for military service, the leave may be protected under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Paid or unpaid leave may be used for a leave protected under USERRA. Use the UWS Military Leave webpage to request a leave and for additional resources. To notify UWSP of the leave, please contact your supervisor and UWSP HR at hr@uwsp.edu.
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