If academic staff are ineligible for FMLA, but need to be out due to their own health condition, they may contact UNUM to apply for Medical Leave which would track their absence in Workday for any impacts on benefits.
While Medical Leave does not provide the same job protection as FMLA, some accompanying circumstances can provide job protection. For instance Short Term Disability and a leave of absence due to pregnancy provide job protection.
This leave can only be approved on a continuous basis and for your own health condition.
How to Apply
Notify your supervisor of the need to for leave as soon as possible, preferably 30 days in advance for known leave dates.
Follow departmental call out procedures until approved, keep your manager informed of your expected return to work date or any extensions you may require.
Contact UNUM to apply for leave via phone at 866.269.0979 or online via their website. To apply online, you'll need to log in or register by clicking on the relevant link in the upper right corner of the website.
Pay while on Leave
Input any Paid Time Off to receive pay before other benefits are approved or in cases where benefits will not be applicable.
Non-Exempt employees submit your timecard for the pay period in which you are going on leave and when you return from leave. During your approved leave period, you will not need to submit a timecard.
Pay on Medical Leave is through your own Paid Time Off, Short Term Disability benefits (if you are eligible and qualify), Paid Parental Leave (if you are eligible and qualify), or Workers Compensation benefits (if approved).
You should contact your Short Term Disability vendor as soon as possible, if your benefits are not managed by UNUM. Employees in the VRS Virginia Sickness and Disability Plan (VSDP) contact Alight at 877-928-7021.
References:
Disability Benefits
Becoming a Parent
Workers Compensation
Leave Donations
Employees in the VSDP are not eligible for donations when on leave for their own illness or injury.
Employees in the Traditional (Personal) Sick Plan, may also receive Annual Leave donations for leave related to their own illness.
Classified employees may donate Annual Leave to University Staff employees approved for FMLA to care for an ill family member and vice versa. Donations cannot be made to and from the Academic, Medical, or UPG divisions.
Donations would only be applied when an employee has exhausted all of their own paid time off options.
To apply, complete the leave sharing recipient application. Once received the leave team will confirm approval of the leave. Once the leave is approved, the team send instructions about the donation process to the employee and their manager.
Benefits while on Leave
Benefits will continue during your leave of absence unless you request to waive benefits for a period of unpaid absence.
If you wish to waive your benefits while you’re on leave, you must do so within 60 days of the commencement of your unpaid leave of absence. The coverage changes will be effective the first of the month following receipt of your request if received within 60 days of the commencement of your unpaid leave date. You must make your request to askhr@virginia.edu with the subject “LWOP Benefits Waiver."
If you are on any period of Leave Without Pay (LWOP), you will owe the employee premiums for your benefits. For unpaid absences less than sixty days, benefits will be held in arrears and taken from the next check where pay is received. For unpaid absences over 60 days, employees will receive an invoice for premiums due.
PTO Accruals
Classified Staff: Annual accrual stops on any periods of LWOP or after 90 days on leave and resume upon your return to work. VSDP Family Personal and Sick Leave balances will not be replenished until you return to work, if you are on leave beyond the end of the Leave Year.
University Staff: Accruals continue while on Medical Leave