All Things WTU Leave: Leave Benefits, Using Banks & More

Using the Leave Banks

Process to use the Banks:

1. Members should review the DCPS Leave of Absence Website and apply using the DCPS process that is outlined therein Be sure to indicate which bank(s) you wish to use when it comes time to select where your leave is coming from: https://dcps.dc.gov/page/dcps-leave-absence

   • Can also submit an application with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) by the Labor Management & Employee Relations (LMER) team.

2. DCPS will make determinations for FMLA and/or ADA eligibility and provide guidance on the leave that can be used through a preliminary approval award letter.
   • Note: If the award is provided through ADA, members should forward that award letter to [email protected] and [email protected]
3. The FMLA award letter will be automatically sent to the WTU Leave Bank Review Committee by DCPS. The committee will meet 2x per month (1st and 3rd week). The Committee is made up of 3 WTU members (appointed by the WTU President) and two DCPS members (appointed by the DCPS Chancellor) who will approve Leave Bank usage.
   • We suggest that WTU Members forward their LOA Award letter to [email protected] just in case. While not a necessary step, this will allow the WTU to make sure everything is in order prior to our meetings.
4. WTU and DCPS will share final decision making around eligibility to use either Bank per guidelines that will be updated and published from the latest negotiated policy as approved by the WTU Representative Assembly below (Or linked here):

Current WTU Leave Bank Policy

After the Leave Bank Review Committee meets: 

Joining/Donating to Leave Banks (When Applicable)

How to Join and/or Donate to the Leave Banks on PeopleSoft

• Log into PeopleSoft.
• Click on the NavBar iconin the top right corner of the landing page.
• Navigate to Self Service > Leave Transfer Requests > Donate Leave Request.
• Select “WTU Sick Bank” or “WTU Parental Bank” from the “Program Name” dropdown menu.
• Select “Donate from Sick” from the “From Entitlement” dropdown menu.
• Enter Hours to Donate (must be at least 8 hours to enroll).
  • Note: the donated hours will be removed from your sick leave balance the following day.
• Click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page.

• There will be two confirmation screens after the submittal.
• Donation to another leave bank can be submitted similarly after the confirmation screens.
• A history of all leave bank donations can be viewed by going to Self Service > Leave Transfer Requests > Leave Transfer Request History.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is this special enrollment period? This one time offer is from December 1st through January 9th.
2. For this special enrollment can anyone join who hasn't previously? Yes. First you must be a member of the WTU. All WTU Members can enroll in the Leave Banks even if they missed the first enrollment period.
3. How many hours do I have to donate to be a part of the bank? You must donate a minimum of eight (8) hours per bank you wish to enroll in. In the PeopleSoft system members can now give more hours if they are interested and able.
4. When will the donated hours be removed from my paycheck? They will be removed by the next day.
5. If I submit to donate leave and change my mind during the open enrollment period can I get the hours back? No. Once you submit your donation through PeopleSoft that will be final until the next open enrollment period.
6. What if I need to use the leave banks now, before the Bank is fully operational? The sick leave bank will continue operations and the Parental Leave Bank will resume operations under a shared governance structure with WTU and DCPS in January upon conclusion of the open enrollment period. 
7. Who do I contact directly at DCPS/WTU when I have Leave Bank concerns? The contact for DCPS is the Leave of Absence office: [email protected]. The contact for the WTU is the Leave Bank email: [email protected].
8. What if I didn't get paid in SY24-25 when I should have been eligible? We are still hopeful that the banks will have enough hours after this enrollment period to consider retro payment. This will largely depend on how many hours can be raised by WTU members during our special open enrollment. If enough hours are raised to both pay back members who did not get access last school year as well as keep the banks functional for SY25-26 then a recommendation to that effect can be made. The decision will ultimately go to the governing body of The WTU (either The WTU Representative Assembly or Membership Assembly), who will get the opportunity to decide what we do. Currently we are not in a position to provide retro for SY24-25, but will reevaluate later in the year if things change.

Learn More about Leave

Link if the information below doesn't load

WTU Sick Leave Load

All members of the WTU in ET 15 positions are advanced Sick Leave hours at the beginning of each school year. Note that Sick Leave hours will be pro-rated for all employees hired after the start of the school year. Sick Leave hours are advanced as follows:

• ET 15 (10-month):96 hours (12 days)
• ET 15 (11-month): 108 hours (13.5 days)
• ET 15 (12-month): 120 hours (15 days)
• EG 09 (12 month): 120 hours (15 days)

Up to 32 hours (4 days) per school year of the Sick Leave that you are advanced can be used as personal leave. Unused Sick Leave shall be carried forward from year to year. Sick Leave is not transferable and has no cash value; therefore, you will not receive the cash value of any remaining Sick Leave upon separation from employment.

WTU General and Annual Leave Accruals All members of the WTU in EG 09 positions earn General and Annual Leave, based on years of service. Employees with:

▪ 0-2 years of service earn four hours per pay period

▪ 3-15 years of service earn six hours per pay period

▪ 16+ years of service earn eight hours per pay period

Note: Members of the WTU in ET 15 positions are not eligible for General and Annual Leave.