Catastrophic Leave

The Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program allows employees to donate their vacation or Paid Time Off (PTO) hours to help colleagues in need.  

An employee may be eligible to receive donated hours when they are unable to work due to: 

  • A serious illness or injury
  • Caring for a seriously ill family or household member
  • Death of a family or household member
  • Catastrophic event

 

To be eligible, an employee must meet all the following criteria:

  • Be a career, non-probationary staff or academic employee who accrues vacation or PTO
  • Be eligible to participate in this program under their applicable personnel policy manual or collective bargaining agreement
  • Have exhausted all paid leave (e.g., sick leave, vacation/PTO)
  • Have provided required documentation (e.g., medical certification) and have an approved block leave of absence
  • Not be receiving disability benefits
  • Have not applied for or be receiving workers’ compensation temporary disability payments
Definitions

Serious illness or injury, family member, household member

Requesting Donations for Catastrophic Leave
  1. Request a Leave of Absence through AggieService
    • Note: If you already have an open Leave of Absence case you do not need to submit a new request.
  2. Ask your assigned Leave Specialist if you are eligible for Catastrophic Leave donations to continue pay status.
  3. Your Leave Specialist will review your eligibility and approve or deny the use of Catastrophic Leave.
  4. If approved, your Leave Specialist will ask your department to send out a request for donations  

Eligible employees may receive up to 160 hours of Catastrophic Leave donations, including a maximum of 40 hours from the general pool.  

Donating to Catastrophic Leave
  • Employees may only donate accrued vacation or PTO hours
  • Sick leave and compensatory time off (CTO) cannot be donated
  • Each donation must be in a minimum of 8-hour increments
  • Donations are transferred hour-for-hour regardless of differing pay scales
  • Donations can be made to either a specific eligible employee or contributed to a general pool.  
Donation Process
  • When an individual employee is approved to receive Catastrophic Leave, a department representative will send a request for donations along with instructions.
  • Donate to the general Catastrophic Leave pool by submitting the donation form to your Payroll Office.
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