G.1.5 Leaves of Absence

Marine Biological Laboratory
Policy No. G.1.5

Human Resources

Initiated by: Human Resources Director
Approved by: MBL Director
Date: December 3, 1989
Revision: # 6, June 2026
Distribution: MBL Community

Policy Statement

It is the policy of the Marine Biological Laboratory (“MBL”) to consider granting employees with at least one (1) year of service a personal and/or professional leave of absence from the MBL. 

Notice of Leave

In order to protect the needs of MBL, whenever possible, most requests for a leave should be brought to the attention of your supervisor and Human Resources for review and approval at least two (2) calendar weeks in advance. Where the need for the request is not foreseeable, it should be brought to HR as soon as you know of the potential need for a leave of absence. Requests must include the reason, effective date and expected return date. Employees who misrepresent the reason for a personal and/or professional leave of absence are subject to termination.

Personal Leave

All regular full-time and regular part-time employees who have been employed at MBL for at least one (1) year are eligible to be considered for a personal leave of absence.  Employees may be granted a personal leave of absence to attend to personal matters in cases in which MBL determines that an extended period of time away from the job will be in the best interests of the employee and MBL. Requests for personal leave will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will be granted at MBL’s sole discretion and only where consistent with MBL’s business needs and requirements. 

Personal leave is not to exceed six months. Employers on personal leave may not work for another employer. Where business needs necessitate, MBL reserves the right to require employees on personal leave to return to work in advance of the anticipated return date.  Employees are required to use any accrued time prior to commencing unpaid personal leave.

MBL will make every effort to return an employee on personal leave to his or her original position or to a comparable position.  However, an employee on personal leave is not guaranteed reinstatement by MBL.

If a personal leave is authorized beyond thirty days, the continuation of benefits must be addressed with Human Resources. Employees do not accrue sick leave, vacation, and personal holidays during unpaid personal leave.

Employees are not eligible for a personal leave if they have other leave options available (e.g., FMLA, MAPFL, Parental, etc), nor shall it be used to extend available leave options. 

Professional Leave

All regular full-time and regular part-time employees who have been employed at MBL for at least one (1) year are eligible to be considered for a professional leave of absence. Eligible employees may be granted a professional leave of absence to take advantage of training, study, or other professional enrichment opportunities. The decision to grant a professional leave of absence will be based upon such opportunities which MBL determines to be in the best interests of the employee and MBL. Requests for professional leave will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will be granted at MBL’s sole discretion and only where consistent with MBL’s business needs and requirements. 

Professional leave is usually not to exceed one (1) year.  If, at the end of one (1) year there is a request by the employee to extend the leave for up to one (1) additional year, the request should be made to the Director of Human Resources prior to the end of the leave period. The decision as to whether to approve an extension of the leave will be determined by the Director of Human Resources and the MBL Director based upon the business interests of MBL and shall be made in MBL’s sole discretion. Where business needs necessitate, MBL reserves the right to require employees on professional leave to return to work in advance of the anticipated return date. Employees are required to use any accrued vacation time prior to commencing unpaid professional leave.

MBL will make every effort to return an employee on professional leave to his or her original position or to a comparable position.  However, an employee on professional leave is not guaranteed reinstatement by MBL.

If a professional leave is authorized beyond thirty days, the continuation of benefits must be addressed with Human Resources.  Employees do not accrue sick leave, vacation, and personal holidays during unpaid professional leave.

Guidelines:
To request a leave, an employee must submit a completed Leave of Absence Request Form (authorized users only) to the employee’s supervisor and the Human Resource Department

Employees do not accrue sick leave, vacation, and personal holidays during an unpaid leave.

Employees on a leave are expected to be reasonably responsive to and to communicate with the Human Resources Department during the leave.

If an employee does not return to work when their leave ends and has not been approved for an additional leave employment will be terminated as of the last day of the approved leave of absence.

Policy clarifications and updates are available from the Human Resources office.

MBL reserves the right to amend this policy at any time.