Waiting Period
Time before an employee can use accrued leave.
Definition
A waiting period (or eligibility period) is the time between when an employee starts accruing leave and when they can begin using it. For sick leave, common waiting periods are 90 days. For FMLA, the waiting period involves meeting the 12-month/1,250-hour requirements.
Legal Context
State sick leave laws typically cap waiting periods at 90 days, though some allow immediate use. Some states prohibit waiting periods entirely.
Quick Facts
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- Waiting Period
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Front-Loaded PTO
Providing the full annual PTO allotment at the start of the year.
Accrual Cap
The maximum amount of leave an employee can accumulate.
Carryover
The ability to transfer unused leave from one year to the next.
Use-It-or-Lose-It
A policy where unused leave is forfeited at year-end.
Unlimited PTO
A policy with no set limit on paid time off.
Leave Year
The 12-month period used for calculating leave entitlements.
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