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Military Leave

An Executive Order signed by Governor Ryan has provided that any full-time employee who is a member of any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces, including the Illinois National Guard, who is mobilized to active duty in response to the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, shall continue to receive any health insurance and other benefits he or she is currently receiving. Also, the eligible service member will receive his or her regular compensation minus the amount of his or her base pay for military activities.

Overview

This site will be updated as changes may occur in the specific benefits provided by Federal Law, the State of Illinois or Illinois State University. Contact Tammy Carlson at 8-8846 for any questions not addressed here.

If you are a member of the Reserves or National Guard, please so that you can be contacted personally when updated information becomes available.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Active Duty Call-Up

What happens to my health and life insurance while I am on military leave?

Employees who are activated by the National Guard or Reserves are considered employees of the Federal Government. However, the Federal Government does not provide insurance coverage until the 31st day of active duty call-up.

Under policies of the State of Illinois and as provided by Federal law, during the first 30 days of active duty, you and your dependents remain eligible for State health, dental, and life insurance. 

How does military leave effect my participation in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS)?

The current SURS Policy simply states: "If you take a leave of absence for active duty military service that interrupts your SURS-covered employment, you will receive up to 5 years of service credit if:

• You enter military service immediately following a period of employment with a SURS-covered employer and
• You return to work with a SURS-covered employer within one year of receiving an honorable discharge."

This means that you receive service credit without making any contributions to the Retirement System.

What about other benefits such as vacation and sick leave?

When you return to work you are restored as if you had never left. This is referred to as the escalator principle and it applies to the following benefits and situations:

• Vacation accrues to the maximum allowed and at the appropriate accumulation rate based on years of service. The time on military leave counts towards the years of service to determine the vacation accumulation rate.
• Sick leave accrues at the rate of one day (based on percentage of appointment) for each month on military leave.
• Seniority continues to accrue as if you were continuing to work at the University.
• Salary is restored. When you return to employment at Illinois State University following the termination of your military leave, you return at the salary you would have been earning if you had not been on leave. This includes merit increases as well as step plan or longevity increases.

What is my status when I return if I am called to active duty in the middle of a probationary period or Learner Program?

If you leave Illinois State University for active military service while in a probationary period or Learner Program, you return to work at the point you had been prior to the leave. In other words, if you had completed two months of a six month probationary period, when you return to employment you will have four months remaining in the probationary period.

What if I want to voluntarily enlist? What benefits are available to me?

If you voluntarily enlist, the same benefits described above are available to you. Those possible enhancements (in italics) and those provided in the Governor's Executive Order (Sept 20 update in bold) may or may not apply if you voluntarily enlist.