Revisions to the University’s Short-Term Disability (STD) and Sick Leave Policies |
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January 12, 2016, Volume 62, No. 18 |
Effective July 1, 2016
Penn is revising its short-term disability (STD) and related sick leave policies. These policy changes support full or partial income protection for regular full-time staff members during a period of disability, regardless of weekly or monthly paid status, or length of service. The changes will go into effect July 1, 2016 for all current and new regular full-time staff, position grades 28 and below.
What’s Changing
Under the new policy, staff members will be eligible for short-term disability on the first day of the month following their hire date. Staff members will no longer need to accrue STD days. Instead, staff members who are approved for disability will be paid 100% of their base salary for the duration of the disability up to a maximum of 6 weeks after a 10-day waiting period.
During the waiting period, sick and/or paid time off (PTO) days will be used. If sick or PTO days are not available, the waiting period will be unpaid. If the approved disability continues beyond 8 weeks, staff members will continue to receive 75% of base salary up to a maximum of 18 additional weeks.
Staff members will continue to accrue sick days up to a new maximum of 24 days. Staff members who have accrued more than 24 sick days before July 1, 2016 will retain their balance of unused days. These days may be used during the STD waiting period and for unrelated illnesses, doctor’s appointments, intermittent family and medical leave, and care of a family member (up to 5 days in a calendar year). Staff members who have accrued STD days before July 1, 2016 will retain their balances until June 30, 2018. These days may be used during weeks 9-26 of STD to replace 75% of salary with 100%.
University staff members who are covered by collective bargaining agreements should refer to the appropriate contract article. Any contract articles incorporating or referring to previous editions of this policy shall be superseded by the new policy.
Penn’s current sick leave and STD policies remain in effect through June 30, 2016.
Information Sessions
Human Resources will hold information sessions to explain the new policy in greater detail. You are encouraged to attend a session at Claudia Cohen Hall, Terrace Room, 249 South 36th Street. Sessions are scheduled for:
Tuesday, February 2
10-11:30 a.m.
2-3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 9
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Please register in advance at www.hr.upenn.edu/myhr/registration/events?category=53
If you have questions, please contact fmla@hr.upenn.edu or visit www.hr.upenn.edu/myhr/benefits
—Division of Human Resources |