XIV. Vacation and Leave
Vacation Time
All residents receive four weeks of vacation each year. Residents receive four working weeks of vacation per year, seven days during clinical rotations, and five days during elective rotations. Residents will be allowed to schedule vacation in one-week blocks. Preferences for dates of vacation will be considered but not assured. If there are dual requests; priority by time submitted, resident level, conference participation.
1) No vacations are permitted after the second week of June or in the month of July.
2) All vacation requests for each rotation must be submitted within the first two weeks of the rotation. If requests are not received, the program administrator will assign vacation time.
3) No more than two residents on vacation during any one week.
4) No more than one resident at any level on vacation during one week (i.e. Junior, Senior, Chief) at all hospitals.
5) Clinical duty extends until next resident rotator is physically available. (i.e. until January 1 or July 1 just before rounds with the new team).
6) All vacations are scheduled in the first two weeks of the rotation. Seniority has preference, otherwise first come first serve.
7) There is no week off for the chief as they leaves. This week is counted as vacation. If the chief saves all of their vacation at UCLA, then they are eligible to leave two weeks early. If the UCLA Chief Resident uses vacation time prior to the end of the rotation, they are on duty until the morning of July 1, and the chief residents do not rotate one week ahead of time. If the UCLA chief saves one week of vacation until the last week of June, then the chiefs will rotate one week early.
8) Residents should not finalize travel arrangements until vacation request has been approved
9) Vacation requests are submitted in advance (beginning of each rotational period) for Program Director approval.
10) Resident secures appropriate coverage for vacations taken during clinical rotations.
11) UCLA Chief, Senior, and Operative P.A. may not take vacation at the same time.
12) Vacations must be taken within the academic year of appointment. No carry over to subsequent years will be made.
13) Non-approved days of leave in excess of the allowed (28) days will be considered absences without approval and no credit for training will be given for this time.
Leave Policy
The following program policy regarding leave from clinical duties during training is in effect.
Sick Leave: sick leave is accrued at the rate of eight (8) hours per month of appointment. In the event of illness, the resident must notify the chief resident of his/her service, and the Surgery Education Office immediately.
Family Illness or Death Leave: up to five days of sick leave may be used if the resident is required to be in attendance or provide care because of an illness in the family or attendance is required due to the death of a relative.
Paid Maternity Leave: two (2) weeks per academic year. Leave in excess of this time, with the exception of sick or vacation time will be leave without pay and may not be credited for training requirements.
Paid Paternity Leave: one (1) week if the following conditions are met: Written notice given to the Program Director of the intention to take paternity leave at least 30- days prior to the expected birth or adoption. The paternity leave cannot be taken later than thirty (30) days after the actual birth or adoption date, nor commenced prior to 30 days before the projected birth or adoption date.
Medical Leave: may be requested if a medical condition affects a trainee's ability to continue in the training program or to safely or adequately fulfill their patient care responsibilities. Please refer to UCLA Housestaff manual for the necessary procedure to follow.
Leave for Interviews or Meeting Travel: additional working days may be granted by the Program Director for interviewing or meeting attendance. Written approval from the Program Director and the Chief of Service is required prior to departure. Post facto approvals will not be given and in such instances, the time taken will be considered leave without pay. The traveling resident must provide their own coverage for their absence.