5.7 Short Term Disability

Purpose

To allow full-time employees partial paid time off if disabled for a short period of time.

Scope

Full-time employees of Rochester University who work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week and meet the eligibility requirements below.

Eligibility Requirements

Employees eligible for short term disability must meet the following criteria:

• Employed by the University for a minimum of one year and fulfilled a minimum of 1,250 hours during the 12-month period immediately preceding the commencement of the requested leave.
• Must be under the regular care and attendance of a licensed physician recommending the employee be restricted from performing assigned duties because of injury, illness or pregnancy.

Short term disability benefits will not be payable for intentionally self-inflicted or self-induced accident, illness or injury, or for disabilities due to an occupational sickness or injury. An employee will not be paid for unused disability leave beyond termination, resignation or mandatory retirement for other than medical reasons. Employees receiving Workers Compensation benefits or other disability insurance are not eligible for short term disability.

Policy

Full-Time Staff

A full-time staff employee who meets the eligibility requirements above is eligible for short term disability pay equal to half wages. Payment begins after all accrued sick leave (maximum of 192 hours) has been exhausted and is made through the 90th calendar day of the illness or disability. Short term disability begins and runs concurrently with FMLA and counts against the maximum allowable FMLA of 12 weeks. (See Family Medical Leave Act – Section 5.8) Rochester University requires documentation certified by a medical professional be submitted to the Human Resources Office before disability payments will begin (exceptions may be made in extreme circumstances). The University reserves the right to require a statement by a medical professional of its own choosing to certify the employee cannot perform work for which he or she may be qualified.

Full-Time Faculty

A full-time faculty member who meets the eligibility requirements above is eligible for short term disability pay. Payments are made through the 90th calendar day of the illness or disability. The first thirty days of disability pay is equal to full wages; the remaining sixty days are equal to half wages. Short term disability runs concurrently with FMLA and counts against the maximum allowable FMLA of 12 weeks. (See Family Medical Leave Act – Section 5.8) Rochester University requires documentation certified by a medical professional be submitted to the Human Resources Office before disability payments will begin (exceptions may be made in extreme circumstances). The University reserves the right to require a statement by a medical professional of its own choosing to certify the employee cannot perform work for which he or she may be qualified.

Procedure

Employees requesting short term disability must complete the Request for Short Term Disability form and have a doctor complete the Attending Physician Statement. Both forms must be submitted to the Human Resources Office before approval for short term disability can be determined.

Reccurence of Disability

A short term disability claim is considered a continuation of the previous disability claim if the employee:

• is disabled for at least 14 days but for less than six months, and
• returns to regular work for less than 14 days, and
• suffers a recurrence of the previous disability from the same or related causes as determined by the Human Resources Department.

Otherwise, the later period of disability is a new disability, and the waiting period will begin again.