Family Care Leave of Absence
Family care leave is absence for the birth or adoption of a child, for placement of a child in foster care, or for a serious health condition affecting a spouse, parent, or child who is under 18 years of age. It is available for the care of those over the age of 18 if they are incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability at the time FMLA leave is to commence. Faculty should review the Faculty Leave webpage for more information.
Eligibility
Service
One continuous year of service is required for you to take a leave of absence for family care.
Hours
In the 12 months prior to the leave, you must have worked at least 1,250 hours.
Application procedure
If you're interested in taking FMLA, contact The Hartford 30 days prior to the leave or as soon as possible. Instructional faculty must contact The Hartford 60 days prior to the start of the leave as well as their Dean's office for academic planning. You can reach The Hartford at 1-888-541-7283. View the Hartford Flyer to read the step by step instructions of applying for a leave. Once your claim has been assigned to a claim administrator at The Hartford, you can request to speak to this person directly by scheduling an appointment online.
Provisions
Holding the job
The job is held for up to 12 weeks in any 12-month period. In the case of intermittent leave or leave taken through a reduced work schedule, the job may be held for the time equivalent to 12 weeks of your work schedule. If department operations permit, the employing department may hold the job beyond 12 weeks, but no longer than the 6 months of EST.
Pay
Incidental sick time for care of family members, vacation and personal floating holidays are used at the start of the leave, followed by unpaid leave. Additional paid time may be available for parents when eligible for the birth and adoption parental leave (BAPL).
Benefits
If you are on a paid family care leave, you will continue to have benefits coverage. The University continues to pay the employer contribution during a family care leave. If enrolled in the dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) this benefit is frozen until you return from leave. The dependent care FSA can only be used when you are actively at work. Commuter benefits are temporarily terminated when on a leave of absence, as this benefit can only be used when you are actively at work. The deadline to make changes to commuter benefits is the 5th of the month prior. Please make any necessary changes prior to that deadline. For additional question on the commuter benefits, visit the commuter benefits page .
Unpaid leave
If you are on an unpaid leave, you will be billed for benefits coverage. You have the option to waive some or all benefits while on an unpaid leave. This is done in myHR after the leave of absence is entered into the system and processed. The dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) is temporarily frozen during a leave of absence. Commuter benefits are temporarily terminated when on a leave of absence. This benefit can only be used when you are actively at work. The deadline to make changes to commuter benefits is the 5th of the month prior. Please make any necessary changes prior to that deadline. For additional question on the commuter benefits, visit the commuter benefits page.
End of the leave
Return to work
At the expiration of an FMLA leave, staff members and instructional faculty members return to the same or an equivalent position as was held when the leave began.
Extension
If the leave of absence extends longer than The Hartford approved period, the staff member or instructional faculty member must request an extension from The Hartford prior to the expiration of the leave. If the staff member or instructional faculty member does not return from the leave of absence and does not request an extension, their employment may be subject to termination.