Home ׀ Leave information ׀ Family Planning ׀ Childcare ׀ School-Age Child and Adolescent ׀ Eldercare Resources ׀ Work Life Balance
I need to take a leave to help care for my aging parent or spouse. What are my options?
There are a number of different leave options. You should definitely meet with someone from Faculty Affairs (http://www.sjsu.edu/facultyaffairs/contacts/) to discuss all the different options.
Faculty are able to take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave to care for a family member. Details on the Family Medical Leave (FML) are given on HR's webiste (http://www.sjsu.edu/hr/docs/benefits/info/fcml_info.pdf)
You may also work part time with a difference in pay (DIP) leave (http://www.sjsu.edu/facultyaffairs/Unit_3/CBA/DIP/index.htm). You are eligible for this if you have worked full time for 6 years in the last 7 years. The DIP leave will restart your sabbatical clock. Also, the time will only partially accrue towards your retirement clock.
You may also take an unpaid leave of absence (Personal Leave Without Pay). This time will not accrue towards your retirement. You are not eligible for SJSU health benefits during that time. However, it does not restart your sabbatical clock. More details are given on the Leave Without Pay paperwork (http://www.sjsu.edu/facultyaffairs/docs/Per_Prof_Leave_Form.pdf).
How would the leave affect the tenure clock?
Faculty who take a leave to care for a family member are eligible to stop the tenure clock for a year. This can be done twice (maximum of two year extension). The stopping of the tenure clock is not automatic. You must decide to do it at least 30 days in advance of returning to work from the leave. Details are given on page 10 of the SJSU Work Life Balance Handbook: http://www.sjsu.edu/facultyaffairs/docs/ACESLOAN.pdf
You are not eligible to stop the tenure clock if you take a difference in pay leave or a personal leave without pay (without taking the FML).
How would the leave affect my retirement clock or sabbatical leave clock?
With the FML leave, there is no impact on your retirement clock or your sabbatical leave clock. The up to 12 week leave accrues as regular time. It does not restart your sabbatical clock.
A leave without pay does not accrue towards your retirement. However, the leave without pay does not restart your sabbatical clock. For more information, see the Eligibility section of the Senate policy on sabbatical: http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/F08-4.htm
A difference in pay leave does accrue towards your retirement in the partial fraction. However, it will restart you sabbatical clock. For more information, see the Eligibility section of the Senate policy on sabbatical: http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/F08-4.htm
How would the leave affect my health benefits?
If you take the Family Medical Leave, there is no impact on your benefits. Your benefits remain intact throughout the 12 weeks.
In general, to be eligible for SJSU benefits, you must be appointed at least half time. Therefore, you are not eligible for benefits if you take a personal or professional leave without pay. You are eligible if you take a difference in pay leave that leaves you appointed for at least half time at SJSU. For more information, see HR's Faculty Benefit Summary Sheet (http://www.sjsu.edu/hr/faculty/summary/).
How should I go about taking a leave?
The first step you should do is to read carefully through SJSU's policies so you are familiar with what your options are (see the questions above). The next step is to talk to your chair. Depending on your relationship with your chair, this can be awkward. However, it is in your best interest and the department's that you talk with the chair as early in the process as you are comfortable with so that you can both plan together how best to accommodate your leave and cover your courses and other responsibilities. You need to also talk to Faculty Affairs office (http://www.sjsu.edu/facultyaffairs/contacts/) . They will help you calculate your leave dates. You also need to see your benefits representative in HR (http://www.sjsu.edu/hr/about/directory/byunit/ess_directory/index.htm) to fill out paperwork related to the leave.
What eldercare resources exist at SJSU?
Faculty and staff have access to Concern EAP which is a free referral service to help you find agencies that assist with eldercare. For more details, see the Concern EAP website (http://www.concern-eap.com/Employees/EldercareServices/tabid/84/language/en-US/Default.aspx).
You can use the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) (http://www.sjsu.edu/hr/faculty/flex_spending/dependent_care/) to put aside $5,000 a year before taxes for eldercare expenses. This is reduced to $2500 a year if you are married and filing separately. It can not be used if you have a stay-at-home spouse.
How do I go about finding help to care for my aging parent or spouse?
Accent on Seniors is a free California State licensed senior living referral and information service. http://accentonseniors.com/sem/free-senior-living-facility-facilities-search.htm?gclid=CI66l87e_5cCFRRhnAodsgLkDQ
Care.com has resources available for California residents in need of senior
care. You can find assisted living homes, public transportation options (such as
the Senior Shuttle), and home and health care organizations close by.
http://www.care.com/senior-care-directory-p1072-california-qxs%7CCA.html
The California Assisted Living Association (CALA) is an organization devoted
to the betterment of Assisted Living by providing leadership to assisted living
providers and other stakeholders in the assisted living field; advocacy to
protect the interests of providers and the consumer-focused service they
provide; and education to support the provision of high quality programs and
services.
http://www.caassistedliving.org/web/cala.asp
The California Department of Aging (CDA) administers programs that serve
older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and residents in
long-term care facilities throughout the State. The Department administers funds
allocated under the federal
Older Americans
Act, the
Older
Californians Act, and through the Medi-Cal program.
http://www.aging.ca.gov/default.asp
California Healthcare Foundation has guides for long-term care throughout the State of California. http://www.calnhs.org/
California Registry lists the California area agencies on aging. http://www.calregistry.com/resources/aaa.htm
Institute on Aging (IOA)
is a community-based, not-for-profit organization
that touches the lives of thousands of seniors in San Francisco, Marin, and the
Peninsula each year. IOA's mission is to enhance the quality of life for adults
as they age by enabling them to maintain their health, well-being, independence,
and participation in the community. We fulfill this mission for a diverse
community by developing and providing
innovative
programs in health, social service, creative arts, spiritual support,
education, and research.
http://www.ioaging.org/about/
Government Resources
Administration on Aging (AoA)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services)
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services)
Corporation for National
and Community Service, Senior Corps
Eldercare Locator
Healthfinder
Housing and Urban Development
National Institute on Aging
Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation
Social Security Administration
Other Organizations
Alzheimer's Association
American Geriatrics
Society
Caring Connections
Center for Medicare
Advocacy
Consumer Coalition for
Quality Care
Families USA
Helping Family
Caregivers Complete the Circle of Care
Hospice Net
Last Acts
Live Well, Live Longer:
Steps to Better Health
Medicare Rights Center
National Information and Referral Support System
National Alliance for
Caregiving
National Center
on Elder Abuse
National Citizens' Coalition
for Nursing Home Reform
National Committee for Quality
Assurance
National Family Caregivers
Association
National Long Term Care
Ombudsman Resource Center
National Senior Citizens Law
Center
Older Women's League
Positive Aging Resource
Center (PARC)