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Applying for a Leave of Absence

Leave of Absence Requests

A request for leave of absence should be submitted to the Office of Human Resources when an HCPSS employee meets the following qualifications:

  • The employee has been absent more than 10 consecutive days of work
  • The employee is aware of an upcoming qualifying condition* that will require them to be absent for more than 10 consecutive days of work (temporary leave of absence)
  • The employee wishes to apply for an extended leave of absence

Leave of Absence Options

Temporary Leaves of Absence

*Qualifying Conditions:

  • Maternity or Paternity
  • Personal Illness
  • Family Member Illness
  • Military
  • Adoption

Learn more about temporary leaves of absence →

Extended Leaves of Absence Options:

*Qualifying Conditions:

  • Study/Professional
  • Childrearing

Learn more about extended leaves of absence →

How do I apply for a leave of absence?

To apply for a new Leave of Absence, fill out the New Leave Request form to submit your request. You must use your HCPSS account to submit the request.

All leave of absences are unpaid leave, with the exception of Worker’s Compensation and Administrative Leave. Depending on the type of leave of absence, an employee might be able to use their paid leave during the absence. Please note that if an employee does not indicate the type of paid leave they wish to use while on leave, HCPSS will automatically apply available leave types in the order listed below to maintain the employee’s paid status for as long as possible. The specific paid leave types applied may vary depending on the nature of the leave of absence, as well as the employee’s negotiated agreement and position. Paid leave will be applied in the following order:
  1. Earned Sick Leave
  2. Unearned Sick Leave
  3. Earned Personal Leave
  4. Unearned Personal Leave
  5. Annual Leave
Employees who wish to request a different application of leave must notify their Leave Specialist.

HCPSS Policies & Negotiated Agreements

For information pertaining to HCPSS Policies and Negotiated Agreements, as they pertain to leaves of absence, please see below:

Leave of Absence Affect on Retirement Benefits

While on a paid leave, your benefits are protected. Once you are on an unpaid leave, you will be responsible for protecting these benefits. It is important to know that Howard County’s leave of absence rules differ from the Maryland State Retirement Agency’s (MSRA) rules.

For both MSRA qualified and unqualified leave

  • If you retire following a leave of absence, in order to receive health and life insurance benefits as a retiree, you must keep these benefits active through your leave so that coverage is continuous. If your leave is not a FMLA leave or goes beyond your FMLA time, and it is an unpaid leave, you will have to pay the full cost of your health insurance to qualify for that insurance in retirement. If you are totally disabled and your disability began prior to your 60th birthday, a waiver for the life insurance premiums may be available; call a Benefits Specialist at 410-313-1564. (If you are on workers compensation from Sisco or on an unpaid leave following workers’ compensation, procedures may be different; call the claims representative at 410-313-7494).
  • If you wish to continue your health, dental, vision insurance, etc., you must complete a Benefits Billing Form giving HCPSS authorization to bill you. Your coverage will end if you fail to maintain payments. This form is part of your leave packet
  • If you want to continue your Basic life insurance, contact the Benefits office at 410-313-1564 to request a conversion form within 30 days of your final paycheck from HCPSS.
  • If you had Long term disability and would like to continue the LTD while on unpaid leave contact the Benefits office at 410-313-1564 to request a conversion form within 30 days of your final paycheck from HCPSS.
  • If you move during your leave period, please notify HCPSS as well as the Maryland State Retirement and Pension system.

For MSRA qualified leaves only

  • MSRA will grant an approved leave of absence for up to two years. Your MSRA leave will begin when your unpaid status begins. To take advantage of the full two years of unpaid leave with MSRA, it is important that your Application to Be Placed on a Qualifying Approved Leave of Absence reflect your unpaid leave time only.
  • You will be eligible to purchase the unpaid leave (two year maximum) by making up your missed contributions, provided there is a Form 46 on file. You will need to complete a Request to Purchase Previous Service, Form 26. Purchase this as early as possible for your missed contributions will accumulate interest: the longer you wait, the more you will pay.

Questions or concerns:

Contact the Benefits Office at 410-313-6713, 1564 or 6710 for questions regarding life or health insurance. Contact the MSRA at 1-800-492-5909 for questions regarding your MSRA qualified leave and pension benefits.

Contact Us

For more information, send an email to HRLeaveofAbsence@hcpss.org or call one the following telephone numbers: 410-313-6695, 410-313-6612, 410-313-8872.