Managing Medical Leaves (Non-Occupational)

A leave of absence, not work related, due to an employee’s own health condition is considered a non-occupational medical leave. Reasons to take this type of leave include: an absence of more than one work week due to:

accident
injury
illness
pregnancy-related disability.

This leave may be taken for a set period of time (e.g., six weeks), as a reduced schedule (e.g., only working 28 hours per week) or intermittently (sporadic absences).

For COVID-19: A 14-calendar day period of paid sick leave is available, and is in addition to other available sick leave for all employees that have tested positive for COVID-19, or presumed positive as indicated by a note from their physician. Documentation is required.

Employees may use documentation from their healthcare provider, a positive test result, or an order of quarantine from their local health department.

Requesting a Leave of Absence

Employee notifies their supervisor and submits a medical note to the Leave Management Office after one work week of absence
Supervisor notifies Departmental HR contact of the leave request
Departmental HR contact provides the employee with New York Life's contact information and applicable FMLA documentation to complete. Employee returns applicable FMLA documentation to the Leave Management Office.
Employee files NYSDBL claim:
1. By phone: 1-800-644-5567, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday; or
2. Online: https://www.mynylgbs.com/auth (no username/password)
3. Note: 1199 Clerical and Cafeteria employees should call the Benefit Fund's Member Service to file a claim, not New York Life. Members should still complete FMLA paperwork if applicable
Departmental HR contact will receive an email from New York Life requesting employee's salary continuation/sick time used and last day worked
Once the claim has been processed, the Departmental HR contact will receive a Disability Leave Confirmation email from New York Life, including the approved dates of leave as certified by the physician (this information is sufficient to complete a PAF)
New York Life and Leave Management are in touch with the employee and their physician as needed throughout the disability leave and will provide updated notifications via email to the Departmental HR Contact when appropriate.

Note about New York State Disability (NYSDBL): This benefit provides a weekly cash benefit (up to $170/week) for up to 26 weeks, for a short-term disability leave. There is a seven-day waiting period for which no benefits from NYSDBL are paid. Benefits begin on the eighth consecutive day of disability. For employees utilizing paid sick leave, their NYSDBL payments will be remitted to Columbia.

Prior to returning to work, medical certification from a physician (doctor’s note) should be submitted by the employee to both New York Life* and the CUHR Leave Management Office.

*1199 Clerical and Cafeteria employees should submit the document to the CUHR Leave Management Office only.

If the employee requires a workplace accommodation, the CUHR Leave Management Office should be contacted to coordinate with the department and employee prior to their return to work.

New York Life
New York Life Group Benefit Solutions
PO Box 29050
Phoenix, AZ 85038-9050
Phone: 888.842.4462
Fax: 866.472.3221