The following is a list of leave types that may apply when employees need time away from work for other reasons. Additional information on the leaves below can be found in the Civil Service Rules .

  • Leave to Accept Other City Position (CSR 120.31)
  • Educational Leave (CSR 120.32)
  • Leave for Civilian Service in the National Interest (CSR 120.33)
  • Leave for Employment as an Employee Organization Officer or Representative (CSR 120.34)
  • Religious Leave (CSR 120.40)
  • Personal Leave (CSR 120.41)

Leave to Participate in School Activities

What Is It?

Unpaid, job-protected leave for parents, guardians, or grandparents having custody of children in grades K -12, or attending a licensed day care facility, to take off work to participate in school-related activities and emergencies. Some City MOUs also grant leave rights for this purpose.

Who Is Eligible?

City employees with qualifying children are eligible for this leave.

How Long Is the Leave?

Up to 40 hours each year, not exceeding eight hours in any calendar month.

Is the Leave Paid?

The leave is unpaid, unless pay is required under the MOU covering the employee. Employees may be required, or may elect, to use accrued vacation, floating holidays or CTO to receive pay.

How Do I Request the Leave?

Employees are expected to follow their department’s procedures for requesting time-off to participate in school activities or for school emergencies.

Reproductive Loss Leave

What Is It?

California Law provides eligible employees unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying reproductive loss events such as a failed adoption, failed surrogacy, miscarriage, stillbirth, or unsuccessful assisted reproduction.

Who Is Eligible?

City employees who have been employed by the City for at least 30 calendar days.

How Long Is the Leave?

Employees may take up to 5 workdays per reproductive loss event but cannot exceed 20 workdays in a rolling 12-month period. Leave can be taken continuously or intermittently, and for full or partial days. All leave must be taken within 3 months of the qualifying reproductive loss.

Is this Leave Paid?

Reproductive Loss Leave is unpaid. Employees may use accrued sick leave to receive pay during this leave. If employees exhaust accrued sick leave, then employees may use vacation, floating holidays, or CTO in lieu of sick leave pay.

How Do I Request the Leave?

To request Reproductive Loss Leave, complete and return a Request for Leave and Leave Protections form to a designated human resources representative, manager, or supervisor.

Vacation

What Is It?

Annual leave for regularly-scheduled employees who have completed one year or more of continuous service. Certain temporary exempt employees may be eligible for vacation benefits. Vacation benefits are provided according to the following schedule:

  • 1 through 5 years: 80 hours (10 days) annually
  • More than 5 years: 120 hours (15 days) annually
  • More than 15 years: 160 hours (20 days) annually

Who Is Eligible?

Regularly-scheduled employees who have completed one year or more of continuous service are eligible for paid vacation. Certain temporary exempt employees also may be eligible for paid vacation. Employees are not eligible to use vacation leave during the first year of continuous service.

How Long Is the Leave?

Vacation cannot exceed accrued time, and must be requested and approved in accordance with department procedures.

Is the Leave Paid?

The leave is paid from the employee’s accrued time.

How Do I Request the Leave?

Employees are expected to follow their department’s procedures for requesting vacation.

Witness or Jury Duty Leave

What Is It?

Civil Service Rule 120.36 provides employees paid leave when summoned to serve on a jury or subpoenaed to testify as a witness on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco. The California Labor Code requires employers to approve unpaid, job-protected leave for employees serving on a juror or summoned to appear as a witness in any judicial proceeding.

Who Is Eligible?

All City employees are eligible for the leave regardless of length of service.

How Long Is the Leave?

The length of leave is determined by the time required to complete the jury service or witness testimony.

Is the Leave Paid?

Employees receive their base wage, less the amount of any juror or witness fees, when serving as a juror or testifying as a witness on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco (Charter Section A8.400G).

The leave is unpaid if an employee is summoned to serve as a witness in a case involving outside employment or personal affairs. However, employees may request accrued vacation, floating holidays or compensation time off to receive pay.

How Do I Request the Leave?

To request leave for jury service or to appear as a witness, complete and return a Request for Leave and Leave Protections form along with a copy of the Juror Summons or Subpoena, to a designated human resources representative, manager or supervisor.