Employee Benefits
Unpaid Leave Benefits
If you need to be away from work for a time and have no paid leave, an unpaid leave of absence may be a good option. However, an unpaid leave of absence can affect your benefits. If you are eligible for paid leave and choose to use it, your benefits are not affected.
During an unpaid leave of absence, whether the leave falls under Family and Medical Leave or other leave provisions, you generally have two options regarding your benefit plans:
- Continue
your coverage for the duration of your unpaid leave
of absence by arranging for personal payments. The employer contributions towards any applicable premium will resume for the coverage month on or after your return to work; or
- Let the coverage lapse. You then have the option to reapply for your benefit plans within 30 days of returning to work. The employer contributions towards any applicable premium will resume for the coverage month on or after the payroll/benefits office receives your application. You cannot change the plans you are enrolled in unless an It's Your Choice enrollment period occurred while you were on leave of absence.
See Family and Medical Leave to determine if you're eligible for and learn about provisions of leave of absence under Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) or Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave (WFMLA).
Unpaid Leave of Absence explains how a leave of absence can affect your benefits.
This document was last revised on May 13, 2010
