The individual or his or her authorized representative may request the leave. In the case of family leave to care for an ill family member, a physician's statement may be required. Approval of the leave is recommended by the employee's supervisor, department chair or director for action by the dean or other appropriate administrative officer in consultation with the director of Human Resources. For approval of a medical leave, the University requires a physician's statement specifying the date the individual first became unable to work and the anticipated date for return to work.
Employees are eligible for medical leaves from date of hire.
If the medical leave is a consequence of an injury related to work for Rice University, the conditions of medical leave are the same as those stated above, except that Workers' Compensation Coverage stands in place of short-term disability payments of salary. Rice will, however, continue to provide the same fringe benefits that an employee receiving short-term disability pay would receive. Family leaves are unpaid, although staff may draw upon available benefit time. For medical leaves, staff may draw upon available benefit time and short-term disability pay according to the provisions of the short term disability program. The portion of the absence covered by available benefit time and short-term disability is paid leave.