Short Term Disability for Full Time Staff with Paid Time Off (PTO)

Purpose

Wilkes University provides a short-term disability (STD) program to replace income at 80% of base pay for eligible employees who are unable to work due to pregnancy, a qualifying non work related illness or injury. Regular 12-month full-time staff and nine/10 month full-time staff are eligible to participate in the STD plan effective on the first day of the month coinciding with or next following a 90 day introductory period. Employees may supplement the STD benefit with PTO and their reserve sick time (when available and according to the conditions below) up to 100% of their base pay while utilizing STD benefit.

How to Qualify

In order to qualify for STD benefits, employees must first fulfill a waiting period. This is the length of time between the onset of a qualifying disability and the time when benefits under the short term disability program first become payable. During this waiting period, employees who are eligible for PTO or who have reserve sick time (available for use only if no or not enough PTO exists to cover the waiting period) may use this time to ensure pay during this waiting period. If an employee exhausts all PTO or reserve sick time (if available) prior to the end of the waiting period, the balance of the waiting period will be unpaid time off until the STD payments begin. The waiting period for 12-month full-time staff is 21 calendar days. Nine/10 month full-time staff must fulfill a 7 calendar day waiting period.

In the event that an employee’s pregnancy or qualifying illness/injury results in intermittent days/weeks away from work, STD will begin after the employee has missed a total of 21 calendar days for 12-month full-time staff or seven calendar days for nine/10-month full-time staff within a 90 day period. Once the waiting time has been fulfilled, STD may be paid on an intermittent basis at the percentage described earlier, with supplemental paid time off or reserve sick time as necessary used to ensure full base pay.

FMLA

All Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) certification paperwork must be completed and returned to Human Resources before any STD can be paid (see Family and Medical Leave Policy). STD time runs concurrently with FMLA time. An independent medical examination may be required at the sole discretion (and expense) of the University. Disabilities covered by workers' compensation are excluded from STD coverage (Worker's Compensation Insurance Policy).

Length

The total amount of time off for STD leave will not exceed a period of six months which includes the waiting period (regardless of whether the waiting period is paid or unpaid). When applicable, the period of time off for STD for nine/10 month full-time staff includes time during months not normally worked. Nine/10 month full-time staff will only receive STD payments during normal work periods. Deferred salary (where applicable) will continue to be paid during summer/non-working months.

If an employee becomes disabled again from the same or related cause within 90 calendar days of his/her return to active work from STD leave, the employee will not be required to fulfill another 21 or seven calendar day waiting period (based on position).

Pregnancy

The total amount of leave for pregnancy is usually six weeks for a normal delivery (which is inclusive of the applicable waiting period) and eight weeks for a cesarean section (which is inclusive of the applicable waiting period). This amount of time may be extended based on appropriate medical documentation.

STD payments will be made through the Payroll process. Benefit participation and normal payroll deductions will continue while employees receive STD pay. PTO will not accrue during periods of STD leave. Employees on STD do not receive holiday pay (see Holiday policy).

Long Term Disability

Employees who exhaust STD benefits may be eligible to apply for Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance benefits. The original date of disability is used to determine LTD eligibility. Any part of a nine or 10 month full-time staff employee’s disability occurring during summer/non-working months will count toward the total six month STD time. The Human Resources Department will provide employees with information about LTD in advance of STD end.

Participation

Full-time staff employees may participate in the STD plan subject to all terms and conditions of the policy. Employees with questions may contact the Human Resources Department for more information.

Issued: 06/01/2004
Revised: 08/04/2021