3.1. 6 Sporadic Absences Because of Illness or Injury

The Princeton University Sporadic Absence policy provides employees with up to eight paid sporadic absence days per fiscal year.

The Princeton University short-term Sporadic Absence policy applies to regular, benefits eligible staff.[1] Union employees should refer to their collective bargaining agreement.

 

Sporadic absence time may be taken by the employee for personal illness, injury or accident or for the care of a sick or injured immediate family member or resident member of the household.

 

Sporadic absence time also may be used for medical appointments, which cannot be scheduled outside of work hours, for the employee or for a member of the immediate family.

 

Time taken for medical appointments for the employee or member of the immediate family or household may also be charged with supervisory approval to vacation time, optional holidays, time off for compelling reasons, paid time off or leave without pay.

In the initial year of employment, employees hired between July 1 and December 31 are allowed up to eight sporadic absence days for the fiscal year of hire.

 

Employees hired between January 1 and June 30 will be allowed four sporadic absence days for the fiscal year of hire.

 

Newly hired employees are allowed up to two sporadic absence days during the 90-day probationary period. (See Conditions of Employment/Probationary Period.) 

Employees may roll over any portion of their 8 unused sporadic absence days from one fiscal year to the next fiscal year, up to a combined maximum of 16 days per fiscal year. 

 

The maximum number of sporadic absence days that an employee may have available for use, in total, in any fiscal year is 16.

 

Unused sporadic absence days are not compensated upon termination. 

If employees need more than their available number sporadic absence days, the absence, with supervisory approval, may be charged as vacation time, optional holidays, time off for compelling reasons, paid time off, or leave without pay.[2]

 

An absence of eight full consecutive calendar days may qualify as a short term disability (see Leaves with Pay/Short Term Disability).

 

Employees who are considered by their supervisors and/or Human Resources to have abused sporadic absence time may be warned that continuing absences may be cause for discipline or termination of employment (see Conditions of Employment/ Absence from the Workplace).

 

Sporadic absence due to accident, illness or injury that occurs during a vacation period is charged normally to vacation. However, an employee may request that this time be charged as a sporadic absence providing there is appropriate documentation from a physician (see: 3.1.8 Vacation Leave).

 

Under certain circumstances, it might be appropriate to charge time off for one’s personal illness or for taking care of a family member to federal Family and Medical Leave or NJ Family Leave. For more information, please refer University policy

Maintain records of employee's absences due to sporadic illness, including hours and half days needed for doctor appointments

 

Follow the normal process for short term disability, if appropriate

 

Restore those consecutive calendar days charged to sporadic absences which have resulted in the current short-term disability. 

Notify supervisors at the beginning of the day, or in accordance with departmental guidelines, of illness and impending absence.

 

Notify supervisors within a week of a scheduled doctor’s appointment or as soon as possible if the appointment is the result of unexpected circumstances.

(609) 258–3300

 

 

 

 

5.1.6 Absence From the Workplace