Military Leave

Administrative Procedure 5.404

In accordance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), Elgin Community College will grant a military leave of absence to employees who are absent from work because they are serving in the United States military. An employee must provide his or her supervisor with advance notice of upcoming military service unless a military necessity prevents this, or it is otherwise impossible or unreasonable for the employee to do so.  

Employees may use paid leave, excluding sick leave, to cover all or part of their military leave.  

During a military leave of less than 31 days, an employee is entitled to continued group health plan coverage under the same conditions as if the employee had been actively at work. For military leaves of 31 days or more, an employee may elect to continue his or her group health plan coverage for up to 18 months of uniformed service but must pay all or part of the premium.  

Employee benefits, such as vacation and sick leave, will not accrue during a military leave. When an employee returns from the leave, benefits will start accruing again.  

Upon return from military service, an employee must provide notice of or submit an application for reemployment as prescribed below:  

• An employee who has served for less than 31 days, must provide notice of reemployment to the Human Resources Department at the beginning of the first full regularly scheduled work period that starts at least eight hours after the employee has returned from military service.
• An employee who has served for 31 days or more, but less than 181 days, must submit an application for reemployment to the Human Resources Department no later than 14 days after completing his or her military service.
• An employee who has served 181 days or more must submit an application for reemployment to the Human Resources Department no later than 30 days after completing his or her military service.
• An employee who has been hospitalized or is recovering from an injury illness incurred or aggravated while in military service must report this to the Human Resources Department within 30 days of the occurrence.
• An employee whose military service exceeds 30 days, but less than five years, must provide the following to the Human Resources Department within two weeks of his or her return:  

1. Application for reemployment.

2. Honorable discharge or other appropriate documentation showing the employee's successful completion of military service.  

If you have questions about military leave, contact the Director of Employee Benefits for more information.  

This policy was last reviewed on 05/17/2024.