Planning for your Family or Medical Leave
For purposes of your own planning as well as your departmental planning, it is important for you to communicate your anticipated need for Family or Medical Leave to your manager, Department Administrator and the FAS Leaves Office as early as possible.
Contact your Manager, Department Administrator, and FAS Leaves Office as soon as you learn of a need for family or medical leave. Please give at least 30 days written notice, if the leave is foreseeable, or as soon as possible within one or two business days of when you learn of your need for a family or medical leave.
Failure to give timely notice may result in the delay or denial of leave benefits.
- If you decide to apply for family or medical leave, please complete the Request for Leave form and return it to the Leaves Office, when possible, at least 30 days before your leave starts.
- To apply for family or medical leave you will need to initiate a claim by calling Lincoln Financial Group at 844-600-3978 or by going to www.mylincolnportal.com (company code: Harvard) and providing them with your contact information, HUID, your last day at work, nature of the medical condition, and physician’s contact info (name, address, phone and fax number).
- When possible, please work with your manager and/or department administrator to discuss coverage and any pending projects or work that may require attention while you are away.
- Medical information is confidential, so you do not have to share details about your medical condition (or your family member’s medical condition) with your manager or anyone else in your department. You should provide the dates of your expected time off and let your manager know that you are working with the Leaves Office on a family or medical leave.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY:
- Any required documentation must be returned to Lincoln Financial within their stated deadlines.
- It is expected that you will respond to requests for updates from both Lincoln Financial and the FAS Leaves Office.
If you are approved for a family or medical leave, regular premium payments for your health insurance will continue to be deducted from your pay to maintain your health benefits while you are on Leave.
Please notify the FAS Leaves Office (leaves@fas.harvard.edu) and Lincoln Financial of any changes regarding the circumstances of your family or medical leave. This includes a change to your planned start date, return to work date, or if you need to request an extension of your leave.
For a medical leave for your own condition:
- Once you are able to return to work, you will need to provide a completed Return to Work form with any work restrictions or limitations noted (along with their duration) to the Leaves Office (leaves@fas.harvard.edu) at least two business days prior to your planned return date.
- Please note that a return to work form is not required for employees returning from a family leave.