Types of Leaves for Staff

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As a SMU staff employee, you accrue vacation time according to your scheduled hours and job classification beginning on your first day of employment. 

Full-time staff employees earn 10 vacation days per year. Those starting in senior-level leadership will earn 15 vacation days per year. Part-time and partial-year staff will earn vacation on a prorated basis.

After six months of continuous service, you can begin using your accrued vacation time with the approval of your supervisor.

SMU observes certain holidays each year including typically week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Click here to view the paid holiday dates for this fiscal year. New employees are eligible for paid holidays immediately.

Partial year employees will be paid for holidays if they occur during their regular work schedule. Holiday pay is prorated based on standard work schedule for part-time employees.

Full-time employees will accrue one day of medical/sick leave for each month of service completed. Part-time and partial year benefit-eligible employees will accrue receive medical/sick leave prorated to scheduled work time.

Paid medical/sick leave may be used for:

  • medical, dental and other health care appointments
  • illness or injury to the employee
  • illness of a member of the employee's immediate family

SMU provides Bereavement Leave for staff employees. Benefits-eligible staff employees are eligible for up to three days of paid bereavement leave in the event of the death of a family member, including a spouse, mother, father, step-parent, son, daughter, step-child, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and aunt or uncle.

SMU is proud to support employees that need time off in order to perform their civic and military obligations. Read more information about SMU's Civic Responsibility and Military Leaves of Absence.

SMU provides paid parental (maternity/paternity and adoption) leave for the birth or adoption of a child.

Click here for more information about maternity and adoption leave.

In addition, SMU offers a variety of unpaid and paid leaves to support employees with their life needs. Click here for more information.