If an individual terminates and is rehired in the same calendar month:

• The new appointment must be entered into the Payroll system before the month-end payroll cutoff to ensure no impact on the employee.

If a new appointment is processed after the end of the month but is retroactive to the month of the termination:

• Vacation time will be paid out, and accumulated sick leave will be forfeited (administered by Workforce Operations).

Once an employee is rehired and the new appointment is entered in the HR system:

• Workforce Operations will reinstate the sick leave balance. To do this, the department should contact Workforce Operations either by phone or email.
• Paid out vacation time will not be reinstated. However, employees can choose to buy back their vacation time by reimbursing Payroll within the same tax year. This option gives employees the flexibility to repurchase either a part or all their vacation time.
• If this is a Merit position, and the rehire is classified as a reinstatement, then sick leave will start from zero and vacation accrual will start at 8 hours per month.

• All health, dental, life insurance, and LTD benefits begin on the first day of the month following the new appointment date.
• If a Professional and Scientific (P&S) laid-off staff member is reappointed to a different classification within the same or a lower pay level, or within the same job family, they will typically be appointed with career status. However, if the duties of the new position significantly differ, the employee may need to complete a probationary period of up to one year before reinstating their career status.
• Exceptions:
  • Staff members who terminate and are rehired within 30 calendar days will maintain their original benefits service date for vacation and sick leave accruals, as well as retain their previous accruals. Restoration of vacation and sick leave accruals is contingent on the return of the vacation payment if it had been paid out.
  • Staff with Career, At-Will, and Specified Term Status, who are terminated due to layoff and return to a Professional and Scientific (P&S) position within 12 months from their termination, will be eligible for the following:
    • Reinstatement of sick leave
    • An option to buy back vacation leave that was paid out at the time of termination
    • Adjustment of the company seniority date
      • When applicable, reinstatement of the original Career Status/Term date (except as provided under Service/Seniority Dates)
    • Benefit eligibility date reinstated to the date in effect at the time of termination
    • A request for reinstatement of parking priority; athletic tickets, and any other benefits held at the time of termination
  • SEIU–covered staff governed by the Staff Nurse and Allied Health Professional Manual (SNAHP) who return to employment within one year will accrue vacation at the rate in effect at the time of termination.

Requests for exceptions regarding the restoration of the original benefit date or sick leave reinstatement should be submitted to Workforce Operations.

• Staff rehired after thirty calendar days will have the date of the new appointment as their service date.
• Seniority dates will be restored for laid off P&S employees rehired within 12 months to the date that was in effect at the time of termination.

• Merit Staff
  • Seniority refers to an employee's continuous service duration in a permanent position from their date of hire. Any period of service in a temporary position counts toward the seniority calculation if employment was within the same classification, contiguous to the appointment of a permanent position, and occurred within the same fiscal year as the permanent position.
  • Seniority is interrupted by resignation, discharge, or retirement. For example, if an employee resigns and later returns through reinstatement, they will be assigned a new seniority date.
  • An employee maintains their original seniority date if they are laid off but recalled to another position within two years of the layoff.
  • If an employee terminates after a one-year leave of absence, their seniority will be preserved for one year after the departure. Any period of unpaid leave before termination will be included in the calculation of the two-year period before seniority is interrupted.
  • To maintain their seniority date, employees recovering from long-term disability must return to employment within a two-year time frame.
• SEIU–covered staff governed by the Staff Nurse and Allied Health Professional Manual (SNAHP)
  • Please contact UI Health Care Employee and Labor Relations for additional information (319-335-9702 or UIHC-ELR@uiowa.edu).