FMLA, CTFMLA and Other Leave Policies

Leave Policy Overview

ALL AVAILABLE LEAVES WILL RUN CONCURRENTLY AT ALL TIMES

One-Time GME Leave Benefit

Beginning on the first day of employment, all residents/fellows have up to 6 weeks of paid medical, family, or caregiver leave available that may be used for qualifying reasons consistent with Connecticut law and ACGME requirements.  This one-time leave will be paid at 100% of pay for both Medical and Family Leave reasons.   Vacation and sick time for medical leaves and vacation time for family leaves must be used at the beginning of the leave (while reserving 2 weeks’ of vacation time for future use if available at the time of leave).

If the first leave required is longer than 6 weeks or if a second leave is required during residency, the leave coverage available will fall under the CT Paid Leave Law.   If the criteria for CT Paid Leave is not met and a leave greater than 6 weeks is required, the remaining leave will be unpaid.

CT Paid Leave Benefit

All subsequent leaves of absence will be paid per Capital Area Health Consortium’s (CAHC) CT Paid Leave Private Plan. To be eligible for CT Paid Leave, you must have been employed by CAHC for at least 3 months. If employed in CT before joining CAHC, you may be eligible for the CT Paid Leave benefit at an earlier time if the eligibility criteria is met.

The rates of pay are as follows:

Medical/Maternity Leave:

  • Paid at 100% of pay for the “medical leave” period your health provider indicates you are unable to work for health reasons (for maternity leave, your health provider will authorize 6 weeks following a non-surgical delivery and 8 weeks following a surgical delivery). An employee may be granted an extension of “medical leave” by submitting updated medical documentation from your health care provider indicating the medical reason the extension is required.
  • Additional leave time taken past the “medical leave” period will be considered “family leave” which will be paid at the approved State rate (see below for further details).

Family/Non-Medical Leave:

  • Paid at the State maximum benefit rate of $840/week or $1,680/bi-weekly. On 6/1/23, the rate increases to $900/week or $1,800/bi-weekly.

Leave Duration

Medical and Family Leave under the CT Paid Family and Medical Leave Act is for up to 12 weeks of pay. An additional 2 weeks of paid leave time may be provided for pregnancy incapacities.

Taxability of Paid Leave Income

FICA and FLI taxes are not required on paid leave income and will not be withheld from leave income, resulting in higher net leave pay.  We will continue to withhold Federal and State tax since leave pay is taxable under these jurisdictions.

Accrued Time Requirement

For Medical Leaves, vacation and sick time must be used and for Family Leaves, vacation time must be used toward the leave (while reserving 2 weeks’ of vacation time for future use if available at time of leave).

Qualifying Leave Reasons Under CT Law

  • Medical Leave – to care for your serious health condition.
  • Non-Medical/Family Leaves – to attend to family responsibilities.
    • Parental Leave to bond with a newborn child or one that has joined the family through adoption or foster care.
    • Maternity Leave Post Medical Period to bond with a newborn child once your medical leave period has ended.
    • Caregiver Leave to care for a covered family member with a serious health condition.
    • Family Violence Leave to attend to specific issues associated with family violence.
    • Military Exigency or Military Caregiver Leave to attend to specific issues associated with a covered family member’s deployment or to care for an active duty injured service member.

Leave Paperwork

All leaves of absence require specific paperwork verifying the need for leave and its beginning and ending dates.  Early submission of this paperwork will help us to provide you with continuous pay so please submit it as soon as possible.  Please contact CAHC to obtain leave paperwork. Please be advised that all leave paperwork including return to work notes for medical leaves, must be returned to CAHC and not to your program or the GME office.

Requesting Leave

In the case of foreseeable leaves, Residents/Fellows must provide at least 30 days’ notice to CAHC and their program before the leave begins.  If the leave is unforeseeable, you must provide notice to CAHC and your program as soon as practicable.

Extending a Medical Leave

You may extend a medical leave for the same condition by submitting updated medical documentation from your health care provider indicating the reason for the extension and an estimated return to work date. A return-to-work note cannot extend your medical leave. An extension must be provided by your health provider stating the medical need.

If your extension is for a new medical issue or condition, you must submit a new CTPFML application.

Return from Leave

When possible, a resident/fellow should provide their Program Director and CAHC with at least 2 weeks’ advance notice of the date they intend to return to training.

A return to work note from the resident/fellow’s health provider stating that can resume work duties is required for all Medical Leaves of absence 3 days or more or following any hospital visit (ED or inpatient) and must be submitted to CAHC before your return to work. A return to work note is not required for maternity leaves that have extended for bonding purposes.

If a resident/fellow cannot return following a leave, they must contact CAHC, their Program Director, and the GME office as soon as possible.

Time Entry (My Evaluations) When on Leave

You are not required to log your time when on approved leave. You may willingly enter time to keep up with it; otherwise, you will need to attend to it immediately upon your return before your next closest pay period.

For Medical/Maternity Leaves – enter into the Sick/Med LV category
For Family/Non-Medical Leaves – enter into the NonMedical LV category

Time Away from Training

Taking any leave may extend the time necessary to complete the program requirements for graduation as well as Board eligibility (see Contract Extension Due to Leave Guidelines Policy). Residents/fellows are responsible for understanding their Residency Review Committee/Program requirements for program completion as well as their Board requirements regarding Board eligibility, specifically as it relates to time away from their program. If more than 12 weeks of leave time is needed, the time will be unpaid and time off must be approved by your Program Director and the GME office.