Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define the University’s short-term disability (STD) benefits, which provide salary continuation to eligible administrators who are unable to perform their regular job duties due to a non–work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy.

Scope

This policy applies to all eligible full-time administrators who have completed one year of continuous service and who are unable to work due to a qualifying non–work-related disability.

Policy

The University’s Short-Term Disability coverage provides salary continuation in the event of a Short-Term Disability, where the injury or illness is not work-related. For work-related injuries, please refer to Workers’ Compensation Benefits.

Eligibility

Hofstra University provides Short-Term Disability coverage for eligible full-time administrators who have worked 1 year of continuous service and who are unable to work due to illness, pregnancy, or injury resulting in the administrator’s inability to perform the regular duties of his or her employment. As discussed below, eligibility will be determined by the University’s insurance carrier.

The Short-Term Disability coverage is subject to the terms of the University’s insurance policy.

Benefits

University Short-Term Disability coverage takes effect on the 8th consecutive day of absence. Administrators with available leave time receive their regular pay for the first 7 days of absence.

Eligible administrators shall remain on University payroll and continue to receive pay for the period of incapacitation as approved by the University’s insurance carrier, or, if sooner, through the administrator’s last day of employment at the University . After 6 weeks, pay may be reduced by one-half of the cost of the administrator’s replacement.

While receiving salary continuation, benefits, including health care coverage, will continue and administrators will be responsible for their share of the premium.

The 12 weeks of job and benefit protection under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) will run concurrently with the use of Short-Term Disability, whenever applicable. The University will not protect an administrator’s position once the 12-week FMLA is exhausted.

During any period of Short-Term Disability, the University is entitled to receive and recoup any New York State disability payments to which the employee would have been entitled.

Administration

Medical Certification:
To be eligible for University Short-Term Disability coverage, the administrator must provide medical certification of the disability from a licensed New York medical provider that includes the starting and expected ending date of the disability. The certification must be submitted to the Human Resources Department who will submit the certification and other paperwork as required to our insurance carrier for a determination of benefit qualification. The University may seek independent medical verification of the disability as a condition of receiving benefits.

Return to Work:
Administrators must return to work as soon as permitted by their healthcare provider. In addition, administrators must submit a “Fitness to Return to Duty” clearance in the form of a note from their medical provider to Human Resources. An administrator whose absence has been designated as FMLA leave is eligible for reinstatement under the FMLA.

Working Elsewhere

To be eligible for continued Short-Term Disability coverage , the administrator must not engage in outside employment and is expected to avoid activities that may delay recovery and a return to work.

Related Policies and References

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