Military Caregiver Leave (FMLA)

Updated on December 15th, 2023

Carle Health offers Military Caregiver Leave to allow eligible team members time away from work to care for an immediate family member injured in the line of duty while on active military duty.     

ELIGIBILITY

Team members must have been employed for at least twelve months and worked at least 1250 hours during the twelve months prior to the start of the military caregiver leave. 

CONSIDERATION OF LEAVE

Covered service members include spouse, child, parent or next of kin of the team member.  The covered service member must be a current member of the regular Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves and must have a serious injury or illness incurred in the line of duty on active duty which he/she is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy.

DURATION OF LEAVE

Team members will be granted military caregiver leave under FMLA for up to twenty-six weeks per rolling twelve month period.  Combined FMLA military caregiver leave and other FMLA leaves of absence cannot exceed a combined twenty-six weeks in a rolling twelve month period.    

BENEFITS STATUS DURING LEAVE

Team members will retain benefits throughout the approved FMLA leave.  If the leave is unpaid, the team member is responsible for providing the applicable payment for voluntary benefits.   

COMPENSATION DURING LEAVE

A combination of paid leave and sick bank benefits can be used depending on the type of leave; refer to the applicable benefit policy for more information. 

REQUEST AND APPROVAL FOR LEAVE

Carle Health has partnered with The Hartford to provide leave management for our team members.  To request a leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, call The Hartford at (888) 277-4767 or submit online through The Hartford’s leave portal.

RETURN TO WORK

Military Caregiver leave (FMLA) leave of absence is job protected, meaning you are entitled to return to your job, in the same position as when you left for your leave. However, if your position no longer exists, you should be offered one that is comparable in terms of skills, duties, pay, benefits, etc.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

A married couple employed by Carle Health may be limited to a combined total of twenty-six weeks during a rolling twelve month period for all FMLA qualifying reasons.