Short Term Disability (STD) Leave Policy for COVID-19

Policy Statement

Effective March 19, 2020

Reason for Policy

In recognition of the fact that employees may incur illness or injury that would require extended absence and to comply with New York State law, the University provides paid short-term disability leave to employees (except faculty*) in cases of non-occupational illness or injury which extend beyond a fixed number of consecutive working days.

Who Is Governed by this Policy

All employees (except faculty*) are eligible for short term disability leave after four consecutive weeks of employment or twenty days of employment, and for four consecutive weeks after termination of employment.  Includes the following employees:

Employees of the Benevolent Association of Security Officers

Employees of the Local 1102

Employees of the Local 153

Employees of Adelphi Physical Plant Workers’ Labor Union (APPWLU)

*Adelphi University will provide up to six (6) months of paid leave to faculty members who are deemed disabled (including COVID related illness).  A healthcare provider must certify that the member is unable to perform duties and certification must be provided to the Office of Human Resources.

Policy

Eligible employees will be paid full salary for the first five days that they were scheduled to be at work as sick time, if the employee has sick time available. As of the sixth consecutive day out we will pay fifty percent (50%) disability pay and we will supplement pay with any sick/personal time and any accrued vacation time that may be remaining. Once the employee time is exhausted we will pay fifty percent (50%) disability pay only.

If you are using the COVID 19 related leave, you will use the 14 days NYS mandated sick time until depleted, if applicable, then apply for disability.

The Office of Human Resources must be notified when you are absent more than five consecutive dates. We will then notify you to contact CIGNA to report the claim.

Definitions

14 day paid New York State mandated COVID leave time: the 14 day period includes normally worked hours/days.

Procedures

The Office of Human Resources must be notified when you are absent more than five consecutive dates. Contact Joanna Ocampo 516.877.3221. You can then report a short term disability claim to the carrier.

File a short term disability claim with the carrier.

The Short Term Disability carrier immediately sends an email to Adelphi notifying of an employee calling in a disability claim and confirms last day worked of employee.

Once your claim has been established with the Short Term Disability carrier they then contact your physician to get appropriate medical information.  This discussion determines the length of the disability and the return to work options.  Once the previous steps are complete, the short term disability carrier notifies Adelphi of the duration of the claim so the employee can be paid through Adelphi’s payroll.

When an employee starts their leave (any type of leave) ON OR AFTER the 15^th of the month, they are eligible for vacation accrual for that month.  When an employee returns from leave (any type of leave) ON OR AFTER the 15^th of the month, they are NOT eligible for vacation accrual for that month.

Forms

Need to file a Short Term Disability claim?

Employees report a leave or disability online:

Cigna.com/customerforms or mycigna.com. This is the most effective means to report an event as call volume increases. Employees may also report an event by phone at 888.842.4462 or 866.562.8421 (español) 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. CDT.

Disability Statement of Rights (DB271) (PDF)                                                             

Related Information

Once approved for short term disability leave you will also qualify for FMLA.

FMLA is an unpaid job protection leave that starts with your first day out on short term disability.

Under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993, the University provides the opportunity for employees who have been employed for at least 12 months to receive up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period without pay for their own illness or the illness of a family member (as defined in the act).

What if an employee tests positive for COVID-19?

Each employee who is subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine will be provided with at least 14- days of paid sick leave.  No employee paid time off will be utilized for the first 14-days.

Document History

This section must contain the following dates or placeholders for future dates:

• Policy Origination Date: Not known
• Last Reviewed Date: April 22, 2024
• Policy Reviewed by: Policy Owner and Policy Experts
• Last Approved Date: April 22, 2024

Who Approved This Policy

 Executive Leadership