Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
631.2 ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for FMLA benefits, an employee must have been employed by the University for at least twelve (12) months and have worked for at least 1,250 hours during the 12-month period immediately preceding the start of the leave. Periods of approved military leave should be counted when calculating these hours of service requirements for FMLA leave. The employee must also be employed at a worksite of the University where 50 or more employees are employed by the University within 75 miles of that worksite.
631.3 QUALIFIED LEAVE REASONS
The University will grant FMLA leave to eligible employees for the following reasons:
1. The employee's serious health condition;
2. The birth and care of the employee's
child;
3. Placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care;
4. Care of the employee's spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition;
5.
Because of a "qualifying exigency" relating to the active-duty status or call to active-duty in the armed forces of a spouse, son, daughter, or parent of the employee, including those contingencies set forth
in the applicable regulations, summarized as follows:
a. short-notice deployment;
b. military events and related activities;
c. to arrange for childcare, or provide childcare
on an urgent basis, or for school activities;
d. to make financial or legal arrangements;
e. to attend counseling;
f. to
spend time with the service member while on short-term leave;
g. for post-deployment activities; and
h. for other activities in accordance with the regulations.
6. Because care is required for a family member or next of kin who is a covered service member (i.e., member of the U.S. armed forces, National Guard or Reserves) who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation,
or therapy, or is otherwise in outpatient status on the temporary disability retired list, for a serious injury or illness.
Leave for the birth and care, or placement and care of a child must conclude within twelve (12) months of the birth or placement of the child. FMLA applies equally to male and female employees.
631.4 DEFINITIONS
1. Employee means faculty or staff member employed by the University on a full time, part time or temporary basis.
2. Serious Health Condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves either:
a. inpatient care in a hospital, hospice or residential medical care facility, or
b. continuing treatment by a health care provider.
3. Continuing treatment means, in broad terms:
a. A period of incapacity (i.e., inability to work, attend school or perform other regular daily activities due to the serious health condition, treatment thereof, or recovery there from) of more than three (3) consecutive calendar days (and any subsequent treatment or period of incapacity involving the same condition) involving treatment two (2) or more times by a health care provider--within thirty (30) days of the incapacity--or treatment by a health care provider on at least one occasion that results in a regimen of continuing treatment under the health care provider's supervision.
b. Any period of incapacity due to pregnancy or prenatal care.
c. Any period of incapacity or treatment for such incapacity due to a chronic serious health condition that requires periodic visits for treatment by a health care provider; continues over an extended period of time; and may cause episodic rather than continuing incapacity (e.g., asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, etc.).
d. A period of incapacity that is permanent or long-term due to a condition for which treatment may not be effective (e.g., Alzheimer's, severe stroke, terminal stages of a disease).
e. Any period of absence to receive multiple treatments by a health care provider either for restorative surgery after an accident or injury or for a condition that would likely result in a period of incapacity of more than three consecutive calendar days in the absence of medical intervention or treatment (e.g., chemotherapy for cancer, physical therapy for severe arthritis, or dialysis for kidney disease).
4. Parent means the biological [or adoptive] parent of an employee or an individual who stands or stood in the place of a parent to an employee when the employee was a child.
5. Child means a biological, adopted, or foster child, a stepchild, a legal ward, or a child of a person standing in the place of a parent who is under eighteen (18) years of age or 18 years of age or older and incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability.
6. Health care provider means a physician, dentist, podiatrist, clinical psychologist, or optometrist who is authorized to practice medicine or surgery in the state in which the individual practices his/her profession. In cases limited to treatment consisting of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation, medical certification may be provided by a chiropractor.
7. Next of kin means nearest blood relative.
8. Covered service member means a member of the United States armed forces, National Guard, or Reserves.
9. Serious injury or illness means an injury or illness incurred by a covered service member in the line of duty on active duty that may render him or her unfit to perform the duties of his or her office, grade, rank, or rating.
631.5 APPLICATION PROCESS
Employees seeking FMLA leave must initiate their leave through Workday by following these steps:
- From the Workday home page, click View All Apps
- Select Time Off and Leave
- Select Request Leave of Absence
- Enter the “First Day of Leave” and the “Estimated Last Day of Leave”
- Select Leave Type “FMLA,” then scroll through to choose the type of FMLA leave being requested
The employee will then be directed to download the appropriate forms from the Requesting a Leave of Absence webpage to continue the submission process. Please note that the employee’s request for leave will remain "pending" in Workday until the appropriate medical forms are completed and returned to the FMLA Administrator.
If an employee is unable to make the request on his/her own or unable to complete all or part of the two-step FMLA application process, the employee’s supervisor may complete one or more steps on the employee’s behalf, upon request of the employee or the employee’s representative.
Employees using intermittent leave or leave on a reduced schedule must make a reasonable effort to avoid disrupting University operations, including scheduling doctor's appointments outside of work hours. An employee using intermittent leave must, on a continuing basis, enter the intermittent leave time in Workday by entering the hours in the “Request Time Off” application after the employee has been approved for FMLA Intermittent leave.
Failure to follow this policy may delay or postpone the commencement of the FMLA leave and/or result in disciplinary action.
631.6 NOTICE TO EMPLOYEE
After an employee has requested an FMLA leave in Workday the FMLA Administrator will provide the employee with a written Notice of Eligibility and Rights and Responsibilities and any other pertinent information concerning the status of the FMLA leave.
631.7 CERTIFICATION BY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
If FMLA leave is based on a serious health condition, whether it involves the employee or a family member (parent, spouse, or child), medical certification from a health care provider will be required and must be submitted to the FMLA Administrator. Failure to provide such certification to the FMLA Administrator may result in a delay or denial of the employee's request for leave. Where a medical certification is required, that certification must be provided within twenty (20) calendar days of the leave request. Employees should be aware that, under certain circumstances, a recertification may be required. In addition, employees may be required to report on their intent to return to work. Finally, if the anticipated duration of an employee’s FMLA leave changes (e.g., due to a change in the employee’s health condition or other circumstances), the employee is required to notify the FMLA Administrator promptly (i.e., within two business days) of this change.
If an FMLA leave request is based on a qualifying exigency due to active duty service or a call to active-duty service, the employee may be required to provide a copy of the active-duty order or other appropriate documentation, as well as certification and documentation from the employee containing information supporting the qualifying exigency. When leave is taken to care for a covered service member, the employee may be required to provide certification from an authorized health care provider.
Employees using FMLA leave of any kind are prohibited from performing University work either in the workplace or at any other location, including the employee's home; the prohibition on working while on FMLA leave also applies to work performed for other employers, except in limited circumstances. When returning to work from an FMLA leave taken because of the employee's own serious health condition, the employee will be required to provide a return to work note from the employee’s health care provider to the FMLA Administrator prior to reporting back to the workplace.
631.8 LENGTH OF LEAVE
Eligible employees may be entitled to up to twelve (12) weeks of unpaid FMLA leave during any rolling 12-month period (which period is measured backward from the date an employee uses any FMLA leave). Each time an employee takes FMLA leave, the remaining leave entitlement equals the balance of the 12 weeks that has not been used during the immediately preceding twelve (12) months.
An eligible employee who is the spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin of a covered service member shall be entitled to a total of (26) workweeks of FMLA leave during a 12-month period to care for the service member. The leave in this paragraph shall only be available during a single 12-month period, though that leave entitlement shall be applied on a per-covered-service member, per-injury basis.
In certain circumstances, employees may take intermittent FMLA leave or FMLA leave on a reduced leave schedule. Intermittent leave or leave on a reduced schedule may be taken only if medically necessary to care for a seriously ill family member or because of the employee's own serious health condition. Intermittent leave or leave on a reduced schedule to care for a child following its birth or placement for adoption or foster care will be allowed based on business needs and only with prior written approval, which will be provided by the FMLA Administrator.
Where both spouses are employed by the University, they are each entitled to twelve (12) weeks of FMLA leave for the birth and care of their newborn child, or for the care and placement with them of a child for adoption or foster care. However, if the employee takes leave under the University’s Sick Leave, Paid Parental Leave, Paid Time Off and/or Short-Term Disability programs in these circumstances, the twelve (12) weeks of unpaid FMLA will run concurrently with any leave taken under any of these programs.
631.9 THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN PAID LEAVE AND FMLA LEAVE PERIODS
In all circumstances necessitating a leave, employees will use paid sick leave and paid time off (PTO) for which the absence qualifies and will also be expected to apply for any Short-Term Disability (Policy 404), Long-Term Disability (Policy 405) or Workers’ Compensation benefits to which they are entitled during the leave (as determined under the terms of those programs). The employee’s sick leave, PTO and any STD/LTD/WC benefit periods will run concurrently with the days as to which an employee’s FMLA leave entitlement applies. In other words, paid leave is substituted for unpaid leave and will be counted toward the twelve (12) weeks of FMLA leave.
631.10 BENEFITS DURING LEAVE
During any FMLA leave, the University will maintain the employee's medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage on the same conditions that coverage would have been provided if the employee had been continuously employed during the entire leave period. The University and the employee will each continue to pay their portion of the benefit costs. In some instances, the University may recover premiums (on a prorated basis) it had paid to maintain health coverage for an employee who fails to return to work from FMLA leave.
During an FMLA leave, sick leave and PTO will continue to accrue only during that portion of the leave which is paid by using sick leave or PTO. During any unpaid FMLA leave, or during a period of Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability or Workers’ Compensation, sick leave and PTO will not accrue. Where the FMLA leave is taken on an intermittent basis or as a reduced-schedule, sick leave and PTO will continue to accrue during the leave on a prorated basis.
631.11 RETURN FROM LEAVE
Normally, employees returning from FMLA medical leave will be reinstated to the same or an equivalent position, with equivalent pay, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment. Failure to return to work if the employee no longer qualifies for FMLA leave (or another type of permissible leave) may result in termination of employment. However, at times, departments, schools and/or centers may restructure due to changing business and operational needs and the need to continually enhance programs and services. These restructuring initiatives may result in position discontinuations or terminations, even positions held by employees out on FMLA leave. If a staff member on FMLA leave has his/her position discontinued, the employee will be given at least thirty (30) days written notice of the position discontinuation and will be informed of any applicable benefits that the employee may be eligible to receive under the Position Discontinuation and Staff Transition Program.
Employees returning from an FMLA leave for a serious health condition or pregnancy must provide the FMLA Administrator with a signed doctor's note on letterhead documenting their fitness to return to work. Employees who are unable to return to work at the end of the approved FMLA leave should notify the FMLA Administrator at least two (2) weeks in advance (where possible) and must have the physician re-certify their medical need for continued leave. Supervisors should contact Human Resources to discuss alternatives prior to taking any action if staff members are unable to return to work and have exhausted their approved leave.
In addition, except as provided in this policy, an employee's use of FMLA leave will not result in the loss of any employment benefit that the employee earned before using FMLA leave. Use of FMLA leave will not be counted against the employee under a "no-fault" attendance policy.
631.12 OTHER LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS
The determination of whether an employee qualifies for FMLA leave will be made by the FMLA Administrator. If an employee is ineligible for leave under FMLA or has exhausted his/her 12 weeks of FML leave, and is further not entitled to paid STD, LTD or Workers’ Compensation leave, the employee may apply for or leave as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or additional leave under Policy 616 (Leave of Absence without Pay) subject to the terms of such Policy.
631.13 FOR MORE INFORMATION
Information can be obtained by contacting the FMLA Administrator or by seeking information from the employee’s supervisor or Human Resources. In addition, a poster has been placed in Human Resources which includes further details regarding eligibility and other requirements of the law. Employees of temporary staffing agencies should contact their agency directly for information regarding their rights under the FMLA (see Policy 112, Using Temporary Agencies). Questions of interpretation under this policy will be resolved by reference to the FMLA and regulations issued by the United States Department of Labor. Employee's rights under this policy shall in no case be less than those afforded by the FMLA.
631.14 EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
Dealing with issues that qualify for Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) can be challenging. Returning to work following FMLA can be stressful. For these and other matters, the University offers the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for free, confidential, one-to-one support at any time. The EAP can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help the employee manage the issues at hand and prepare for a successful return to the workplace. The employee may call 1-866-799-2329 to speak with a counselor. The employee can also find useful information on the EAP website.
631.15 UNIVERSITY STAFF WHO ARE COVERED BY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS
University staff members who are covered by collective bargaining agreements should refer to the appropriate contract article.
631.16 EMPLOYEES WORKING IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS
The benefits and policies for University of Pennsylvania employees who work in locations outside of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania may be different from the benefits and policies set forth in this website. Employees working outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should contact Human Resources for more information.
Policy Number: 631
Effective Date: 07/01/2016
Last Reviewed Date: 6/17/2019
Revised Date: 07/01/2019
Supersedes Policy Number(s): 631 (Family and Medical Leave Act–02/01/1998), 631 (11/01/1998, 02/20/2002, 04/01/2009,
07/1/2015)
Applicability: All Faculty & Staff
Cross-reference: Adherence to University Policy - Policy 001,
Using Temporary Agencies - Policy 112,
Short-Term Disability - Policy 404, Paid Time Off (PTO) - Policy 607, Sick Leave Accrued - Policy 612,
Sick Leave and STD - Policy 613,
Leave of Absence Without Pay - Policy 616,
Occupational Injury or Illness - Policy 714