Human Resources News

Posted 2:54 p.m. Friday, April 4, 2025

Please read about the important policy changes that effect Resignation/Retirement dates for 9-Month employees.

Historically, 9-month employees intending to leave UWL employment outside of the Academic Year (when not on contract) were not able to do so due to the nuanced policy regulations surrounding termination dates. This resulted in a disincentive for employees giving timely notice to their department leadership and Human Resources (thus ensuring they retain their benefit coverage over the summer months). 

For example, Professor John Doe does not intend to return to work at UWL in the Fall of 2025. If they give their notice in May of 2025, at the end of their 9-month contract, their benefits will end 5/31/2025. Therefore, to ensure that they and their family have coverage over the summer months, they don’t announce their intent to resign/retire until 8/01/2025 to ensure benefit coverage will continue until 8/31/25.

To remedy this, UW HR System Administration updated the policy (UWS Administrative Policy 232 Summer Prepay Deductions and Summer Session Benefits Eligibility) to allow for the following:

• Employees on an academic pay basis (9-months) who will not be returning the following academic year and who give notice by May 1st will be able to keep insurance benefits throughout the summer months (June, July & August) as per the following:
  • The University will grant them a “terminal leave of absence without pay” status.
    
  • The employee need only notify their supervisor and HR via an email to hrinfo@uwlax.edu that they will not be returning to UWL in the next academic year.  If an instructional employee, the dean should also be notified.
  • Premiums will be collected via the prepay process in the spring.
    

Employees planning to resign/retire from UWL should consider the following:

• Terminal leave of absence must start on the last day of the academic contract year and continue through the day prior to the new academic year contact start date (employee cannot choose to change the dates).
• Employee will remain in employment status and keep access to their work e-mail account and other resources for the duration of the terminal leave.
• Employee must remain in communication with their department and their institution as needed for the duration of the leave.
• Employee’s separation date will not be sent to Employee Trust Fund (ETF) until after their terminal leave ends.
• Sick leave will not be certified by ETF until after their terminal leave of absence ends.
• Wisconsin Retirement System annuity (if eligible to start) cannot begin until the terminal leave ends.

If you have questions regarding this policy change, please email hrinfo@uwlax.edu.