WHAT IS A LEAVE?
Employees may request leaves of absence for unscheduled or scheduled time off from work that requires job and benefit protection. Leaves of absence:
- Occur for a variety of reasons;
- Range in length and frequency;
- Are for self-care or care for others, among other reasons; and
- Have specific guidelines that must be followed in order to be approved and protect your job.
The type of leave depends on eligibility and the reason for taking time off. Leave is typically unpaid, but comes with opportunities for pay. For example, pay sources may be from accrued time (vacation, sick and personal), Paid Parental Leave (if eligible), and short-term and long-term disability benefits (if eligible).
What is Family Medical Leave?
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to eligible employees for certain family and medical reasons. Family Medical Leave (FML) may be continuous Leave taken for consecutive days through the entire period between the leave begin and leave end dates, intermittent Leave taken in separate blocks of time due to a single qualifying reason or based on a reduced schedule Leave taken where the employee’s weekly schedule is reduced on a predictable basis.
Absences that might qualify under FML include:
- New child related absences
- Your own serious health condition (sickness, injury or hospitalization)
- A family member’s serious health condition (sickness, injury or hospitalization)
What other leaves are available?
Examples of other types of leave include:
- PersonalA leave for reasons not covered by another leave plan that is discretionary on business needs
- Educational
- Non-FML medical leave (for self-care when an employee exhausts or is not eligible for FMLA)
- Non-FML family leave (to care for a family member when an employee exhausts or is not eligible for FMLA)
Contact Sedgwick for more information about leave types.
How do I get paid while I’m on a continuous leave Leave taken for consecutive days through the entire period between the leave begin and leave end dates?
- Accrued time (runs concurrently while you are on a leave)
- Short-Term Disability (STD) — STD benefits are provided by UChicago Medicine to benefit-eligible employees for one’s own condition at no cost to the employee. For specific eligibility and benefit payment rules, review the applicable class/group.
- Long-Term Disability (LTD) — Voluntary LTD insurance provides financial protection for your own disability if you are still unable to work beyond the applicable period of short-term disability. To receive this insured benefit, you must elect LTD coverage during benefits Annual Open Enrollment in May.
- Paid Parental Leave — If eligible, you may receive up to six weeks of paid leave to care for and bond with your new child following birth, adoption or foster care placement. Paid Parental Leave may be taken in one continuous six-week block of leave or on an intermittent basis, provided the absences are taken in one-week increments at minimum. Parental Leave may not be on a reduced leave schedule (reducing the usual number of hours per workweek or workday).
Note: If you are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, please refer to your respective union contract for eligibility and benefit payment details.
What do I have to do if I am taking FMLA intermittently?
An employee who is approved for FMLA leave on an intermittent basis is permitted to take time off for scheduled and unscheduled reasons within the estimated frequency and duration of their intermittent leave. For each intermittent absence, you must follow your departmental procedure to report the absence AND report the absence to Sedgwick within two days of the actual absence.