Enrollment Open for the Health Emergency Leave Program (H.E.L.P.)
Author: Human Resources
Date: 06-17-2026
Article Thumbnail: 
Enrollment for the Health Emergency Leave Program (H.E.L.P.) for the upcoming fiscal year is now open through July 1.
H.E.L.P. is a voluntary leave-sharing program designed to assist employees experiencing a catastrophic medical condition, or who are serving as the primary caregiver for an immediate family or household member experiencing a serious illness or accident. The program provides donated sick leave days from fellow participants and may help bridge a gap in paid leave before the start of disability benefits, if applicable.
Who is Eligible?
Full-time supportive staff, professional/technical staff, and administrators are eligible to participate.
How Does the Program Work?
Employees who enroll donate one sick leave day to the program. Participants who experience a qualifying medical emergency may request H.E.L.P. days after exhausting all available paid sick leave, vacation time, and compensatory time (if applicable).
The number of days available is based on length of participation in the program, with eligible participants able to receive up to 15 to 30 days per fiscal year.
How to Enroll
Current eligible employees who wish to participate in the H.E.L.P. Program for the upcoming fiscal year must submit the attached enrollment form to Human Resources by July 1. One sick leave day will be deducted on July 1 to activate participation for the fiscal year and will continue to be deducted each July 1 thereafter unless the employee notifies Human Resources that they wish to discontinue participation.
New full-time employees may enroll during their first 30 days of employment. After the initial 30-day enrollment period, employees must wait until the next enrollment cycle to join the program.
By participating in H.E.L.P., employees help create a shared safety net that can provide valuable support to colleagues and their families during difficult times.
For additional information about the H.E.L.P. Program, please review the document linked below. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources.