{"id":7839,"date":"2024-03-25T16:18:26","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T20:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/?page_id=7839"},"modified":"2025-11-21T10:15:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T15:15:31","slug":"family-medical-leave-act-fmla","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/family-medical-leave-act-fmla\/","title":{"rendered":"Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), a federal law, provides 12 weeks of unpaid leave that protects you from any negative impacts to your job when you take time off or a leave of absence for any of the following reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Your own serious medical condition<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prenatal medical care or incapacity due to pregnancy and\/or delivery<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Qualifying activities (exigencies) related to a family member\u2019s military active duty<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A serious injury or illness of a family member who is a current member of the armed forces or a veteran<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Eligibility<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You may be eligible for FMLA if you:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">have worked for the University for at least 12 months as of the first day of leave; and<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">have worked for at least 1,250 hours in the 12 months prior to your first day of leave<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Calculating the FMLA leave year<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">FMLA is calculated using a \u201crolling\u201d 12-month period measured backward\u201d to determine eligibility for subsequent FMLA leave periods. Under the \u201crolling\u201d 12-month period, each time an employee takes FMLA leave, the remaining leave entitlement would be the balance of the 12 weeks which has not been used during the immediately preceding 12 months.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Intermittent Leave<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An employee does not need to use this leave entitlement in one block. Leave can be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule when medically necessary. Employees must make reasonable efforts to schedule leave for planned medical treatment so as not to unduly disrupt the employer\u2019s operations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/sites\/dolgov\/files\/WHD\/legacy\/files\/fmlaen.pdf\">FMLA Poster (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/supervisor-responsibilities\/\">Supervisor Responsibilities<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Requesting a Leave of Absence<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p><em><strong>Notification<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Give at least 30 days\u2019 notice, if you know in advance of your need for a leave of absence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you learn of your need for time off or a leave of absence less than 30 days ahead of time, request it as soon as you are able.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You do not need to share any specifics about your health circumstances or those of your family member. However, you do need to provide enough information so that your supervisor can understand that your absence may be covered by the FMLA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Submitting Your FMLA Request<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Employees may request a leave of absence within Workday to initiate the process and prompt the necessary paperwork. View<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">our guide on how to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2025\/09\/Request-Absence.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Request Leave of Absence<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">for instructions..<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Required Documentation<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Leave of absence due to illness and family leave will require a health-care provider certification form\u00a0 to support the need for time off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The form must be returned to HR within 15 days of receipt. Because the information is so time sensitive, it must be completed 30 days from the leave start date. <em>Any submission before 30 days will expire and will need to be completed by the physician again.<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Medical conditions can change and sometimes you don\u2019t know how much FMLA leave you will need to take. You and the health care provider may provide the best estimate of the length of time or frequency of absences you will need based on what is known at the time. If you require more or less leave than you originally thought, you can always provide an updated certification.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Confidentiality<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Office of Employee Benefits will keep confidential all medical information relating to requests for a medical leave. This information will be used only to make decisions in regards to the provisions of the policy.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You should not disclose your own or your family member\u2019s medical diagnosis to your supervisor or department.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Any required certification should be submitted directly to the benefits department, where it will be kept confidential and separate from your personnel file. Do not submit any medical documentation to supervisor.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div> <div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Paid Time off During Leave<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">FMLA leave is not paid leave. Employees approved for a FMLA leave may choose, or be required, to use accrued paid time off to cover\u00a0 FMLA absence. <em>FMLA and the use of paid time off will run concurrently.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Please note that paid time off (sick, vacation, personal, compensatory) may be adjusted to reflect only accrued time to restrict employees from utilizing time that has not been earned. This generally applies to time that may have been recently allotted for the new year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Possible pay continuation options during leave include:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sick Time Off<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">May be required<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vacation Time Off<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Optional<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Personal Time Off<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Optional<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compensatory Time Off<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Optional<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Sick Time:<\/strong> Can be used for any medically related leave, whether for the employee or a qualifying family member. <em>It cannot be used for bonding with a child. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Other PTO:<\/strong> May be used for a serious medical condition affecting the employee or a family member, as well as for bonding time (e.g., following the birth or adoption of a child).<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you will not have sufficient paid time off receive pay by Montclair State University, you have the following wage replacement options through State of New Jersey disability programs:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI)- medical (self):<\/strong>\u00a0You can find information about the eligibility and application process on the<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/myleavebenefits.nj.gov\/worker\/tdi\/\"> State of New Jersey\u2019s Temporary Disability Insurance website page<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Please note: This process is not managed by Montclair State University, you must follow the procedures specified on their website or contact a Customer Service Representative at 609-292-7060.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Family Leave Insurance (FLI)- medical (family member) :<\/strong>\u00a0You can find information about the eligibility and application process on the<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/myleavebenefits.nj.gov\/worker\/fli\/\"> State of New Jersey\u2019s Family Leave Insurance website page<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Please note: This process is not managed by Montclair State University, you must follow the procedures specified on their website or contact a Customer Service Representative at 609-292-7060.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Note:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Faculty members who will be without pay from Montclair State University will also need to complete and submit a request for a Faculty Leave of Absence without pay for the Board of Trustees (BOT) approval. <\/strong>You will need to supply the necessary <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/provost\/resources-for-faculty\/#Administrative%20Forms\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>administrative forms<\/strong>.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Faculty\/ staff who will not have sufficient accrued paid time off,\u00a0 may qualify for the Donated Leave Program.<\/strong>\u00a0The criteria for shared leave eligibility are different from those for FMLA. Contact your leave coordinator if you wish to participate in the programs.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div> <div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Benefits During Leave<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During FMLA leave, health coverage under any \u201cgroup health plan\u201d will be maintained on the same terms as if the employee had continued to work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While on an unpaid leave of absence from Montclair State University<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Employees will be responsible for your usual medical and\/or prescription payroll deductions for the six pay periods of leave without pay. Employees will be provided with the information to make the necessary arrangements to continue payments in order to maintain coverage while on leave. Group health insurance may be canceled if an employee fails to make payment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If coverage with the University ends while you are on leave, continuation of coverage is offered under COBRA for up to 18 months. Employees will receive a notice about continuation of coverage under COBRA at the time coverage ends. Health coverage must be reinstated upon return to work via Benefitsolver.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Employees will not earn pension service credit, will not receive or make pension contributions, and will not earn vacation or sick accruals.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div> <div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Long Term Disability<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If your absence appears to be long-term (more than a year), you may be eligible for Disability benefits through your retirement plan. Please review you options <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/short-and-long-term-disability\/\">here.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div> <div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Returning to Work<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If your leave is for your medical condition, you will be required to provide a Fitness for Duty Certification. This release is to include any restrictions or limitations you have in performing your job. A release to return to work is not required if the Leave of Absence is for a family member\u2019s health condition.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), a federal law, provides 12 weeks of unpaid leave that protects you from any negative impacts to your job when you take time off or a leave of absence for any of the following reasons: Your own serious medical condition Prenatal medical care or incapacity due to pregnancy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":381,"featured_media":3104,"parent":0,"menu_order":11,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7839","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/381"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7839"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9483,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7839\/revisions\/9483"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}