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Sabbatical leaves

UFT members who are teachers or other pedagogical staff — including school counselors, social workers and school psychologists — may apply for a sabbatical leave to enhance their teaching skills, restore their health if they are ill or achieve state...

Excused absences

There are other occasions — aside from personal illness — when you are entitled to be absent from work but still get paid without using your Cumulative Absence Reserve (CAR) or sick bank.

COVID-related leaves and absences

The coronavirus has necessitated many changes in our work world. To ensure the safety of school communities, staff and students are now being tested regularly, and recently negotiated leaves and absences related to COVID-19 are one accommodation to...

Extended child care leave

Many UFT-represented members have a unique and valuable benefit: the ability to take an extended child care leave and return to their job afterward. This benefit is for those who want to take more time off than paid parental leave or a FMLA benefit...

Absences and leaves for paraprofessionals

If you are a paraprofessional, have you ever wondered what your rights are in terms of leave time and absence from work? You earn one sick leave day for every month in which you are in service for at least 16 calendar days. The maximum number of sick...

I am currently on an approved leave. Will I be receiving lump-sum payments/retroactive pay?

UFT members who take an approved unpaid leave will get all of the rate increases that other employees will receive upon their return. In addition, they will receive all of their retroactive pay so long as they return from leave by Oct. 1, 2023, and...

What are the potential consequences of being frequently late or absent?

If you are excessively absent or late, you may receive a letter for your official file. If you are tenured, the DOE has the right, with sufficient notice, to file disciplinary charges against you. There is a special, expedited procedure when the DOE...

Am I eligible for a study sabbatical?

Most appointed pedagogues (lab specialists, school counselors, secretaries, social workers and psychologists and teachers) are eligible for a one year study sabbatical after 14 years of service. In addition, middle school, junior high or high school...

What is childcare leave?

If UFT represented DOE employees want to take additional time off following maternity or paid parental leave to care for their child, they may take an unpaid childcare leave until the September following the baby’s 4th birthday.

What is a grace period?

Appointed pedagogues are entitled to a “calendar month” grace period, which pays you for all weekends and holidays for the calendar month following the exhaustion of the days in your sick bank and/or your borrowed days. Work days are deducted from...