Both paid and unpaid leaves of absence have their components. Personal and professional leaves, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leaves, and extended duty military leaves are all examples of unpaid leaves of absence. (Green, 2003). On the other side, paid leave options include sabbaticals and professional leaves.
Short-term absences from work for non-illness-related causes constitute personal leave. (Green, 2003). Running personal chores, attending a school appointment, or going up country could be the reason. Some companies do offer the benefit since there is no federal law requiring them to pay for personal leave or not. In some states, small necessities leave law requires employers to grant employees a personal day leave upon request.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave
The act necessitates employers to accord eligible employees leave for their serious health conditions which render them unproductive. The purpose entails employers granting employees an opportunity to take care of family members such as the spouse, children, or parents with a serious health condition (Baum, 2003). In addition, provisions of family leave require eligible employees be given leave to spend time with a child under foster care placement, after adoption, and birth. FMLA needs employers to accord leave to a veteran, injured service member, or a seriously ill military member.
Military leave
Military leave is covered in both federal and state law, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994 (Green, 2003). Under this leave, employers should grant employees defense service leave to fulfill their military obligations (Green, 2003). Its components include pension benefits for employees, reinstatements, health insurance, and compensation. Employers are therefore required to comply with USERRA when workers are called to engage in active service and when they return.
Sabbatical leave
The purpose of sabbatical leave is to grant an employee the chance to further his or her professional growth and development so that they may serve more effectively in their areas of specialization (Sima, 2000). The components of sabbatical leave may enable the employee to find their purpose, health, and rejuvenation, having quality time with the family, and even traveling and experiencing the world thus relaxing from the routine working environment.
References
Baum, C. L. (2003). The effect of state maternity leave legislation and the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act on employment and wages. Labor Economics, 10(5), 573-596.
Green, A. H. (2003). Reemployment Rights under the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA): Who's Bearing the Cost. Ind. L. Rev., 37, 213.
Sima, C. M. (2000). The role and benefits of the sabbatical leave in faculty development and satisfaction. New Directions for Institutional Research, 2000(105), 67-75.
