7.5 Sick Pay and Medical Leave
7.5.1 Temporary Illness
A faculty member too ill to meet classes should inform the department chair, who may make alternate arrangements for classes or authorize their cancellation.
7.5.2 Family and Medical Leave Act
It is sometimes necessary to interrupt employment for an extended length of time. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) requires covered employers to provide up to twelve (12) weeks unpaid leave to eligible employees for certain family and medical reasons. Employees are entitled to up to a total of twelve (12) weeks of family and medical leave during the twelve (12) month period measured forward from the date the employee's first family or medical leave begins.
Family or medical leave will be granted to an eligible employee for one or more of the following reasons:
- to care for the employee's child after birth, or placement for adoption or foster care;
- to care for the employee's spouse, son or daughter, or parent who has a serious health condition; or
- for a serious health condition that makes an employee unable to perform his/her job.
Employees eligible to take a family or medical leave of absence are those with at least twelve (12) months of service who have worked at least 1,250 hours during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the commencement of the leave.
See Human Resources for more details on the FMLA.
Employees must first use available paid days off, including vacation days, which will count toward the 12 week period of family and medical leave. Thereafter, any family leave will be unpaid. The College will continue to pay the premiums for the group health, life and dental insurance benefits for the duration of the medical leave, but not to exceed 12 weeks. During this time, the employee must continue to make all premium co-payments required under the insurance plan. If the employee elects not to return to work for reasons other than a continuation, recurrence, or onset of a serious health condition, the employee will be responsible to reimburse the appropriate health care premium to Calvin.
After 90 days of absence, Calvin College cannot guarantee the employee's position will be available upon return.
7.5.3 Maternity Leave
A faculty member taking maternity leave is entitled to the 12 weeks leave outlined in the Family and Medical Leave Act. Calvin designates as paid leave up to 6 of the 12 weeks of maternity leave taken under the FMLA policy as paid leave.
7.5.4 Long-Term Illnesses
See section 7.2.3 (Long-Term Disability Insurance)