Leave & Disability
When an employee is out on leave, there are important things for you to be aware of and steps for you to take to ensure the leave is handled appropriately. The Leave & Disability page is a valuable source of general information, forms, and FAQs.
Short-Term Disability (STD), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Paid Family Leave (PFL) and Workers’ Compensation (WC)
Employees on leave will be eligible for a specific period of time out of the office to recover from their own illness or injury or to care for an eligible family member. The specific amount of time they may be out will depend on the situation, which will be reviewed by our third-party vendor or Leave Administration, depending on the type of leave.
The employee must initiate a claim by contacting the appropriate vendor, completing an incident report or submitting a medical certification form. The specific contact information and steps required depends on the situation; employees can visit the Leave & Disability page for additional information.
As the manager, you will receive notifications describing the status of the claim, periods of away time and expected return-to-work dates, to help you manage your team.
Return-to-Work Program
The University of Rochester strives to provide employees who become ill or injured with the best possible recovery program so they may return to work with minimal emotional and financial disruption in their lives. Returning employees to work as soon as possible after an injury is one of the most effective forms of rehabilitation.
When an employee’s doctor indicates they can return to work with restrictions, the manager works with Leave Administration to determine whether the restrictions can be accommodated to provide the employee with a safe return. In some circumstances a temporary transitional assignment may be an option when the home department cannot accommodate the restrictions.
Confidentiality with employees’ personal information
To effectively manage your team’s workload, you’ll need an understanding of how the employee’s personal situation will impact their ability to work, such as an estimate of the amount of time they’ll be out of the office or any accommodations they’ll need.
However, for legal reasons, it’s important that managers not ask employees for medical details such as a medical diagnosis, but rather focus on the job tasks and what accommodation, if any, the employee needs. If an employee offers medical details, remind them that they do not have to share that information. Keep it confidential and do not repeat it to others. Do not consider it when making employment-related decisions.
Know Your Leave Types
Leave & Disability
From sick pay and vacation time to short- and long-term disability, managers should be familiar with the different types of paid and unpaid leave available to their employees.