Military Leave

Amended: 04/15/2023

Provided by: Department of Human Resources

This policy applies to any active service person on the Tufts payroll at the time  [SMR1]  of application of this policy.

Related Links and Resources

• For Military Caregiver Leaves, Staff: any benefits-eligible employee who has standard hours of 17.5 hours/week or more.
• Note: Members of any collective bargaining agreement should refer to the CBA. Postdoctoral scholars’ hiring practices are outlined in the postdoc handbook. 
• Faculty should refer to the by-laws of their primary school affiliation for guidance.[JDJ(2] 
• For more information regarding state and federal laws upon which this policy is based, please see:
  • PFMLA Plan
  • Federal Family and Medical Leave Act
  • Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

Employees who are called into active U.S. military service or who enlist in the uniformed services are eligible to receive a military leave of absence in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.  To be eligible for military leave, you must provide management with advance notice of your service obligations, unless you are prevented from providing such notice due to military necessity or it is otherwise impossible or unreasonable to provide such notice.  In such instances, you should provide notice as far in advance as is reasonable under the circumstances.

Employees who are required to attend yearly Reserves or National Guard duty can apply for a temporary military leave of absence not to exceed the number of days allowed by law (including travel).  As such, you should give management as much advance notice of your need for military leave as possible so that your department can maintain proper coverage.

Military leave will be unpaid, unless otherwise required by applicable law. [JDJ(3] You may elect to use any available vacation and personal days during an otherwise unpaid military leave. The substitution of paid time for unpaid leave time does not extend the length of leave and the paid time will run concurrently with any military leave entitlement.

Employees whose absence does not exceed applicable statutory limitations will retain reemployment rights and accrue seniority and benefits in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.

Please speak to Leaves@Tufts.edu for additional information about eligibility for Military Leave.