Extended Sick Leave
Definition
Extended Sick Leave (ESL) is a benefit for an employee who is unable to work due to a work-incurred injury or illness compensable under Workers' Compensation. ESL provides an additional benefit after regular sick leave (and, if applicable, vacation leave) accruals have been exhausted while the employee continues to receive temporary disability benefits.
Application
An employee can use regular sick leave to supplement Workers' Compensation benefits so that the employee can continue to receive 100% of his/her regular UC pay. Sick leave supplements can continue until the employee has exhausted all sick leave. An employee may choose to use vacation leave in the same way.
If an employee has exhausted all sick leave (and vacation leave if applicable) and is still receiving Workers' Compensation temporary disability payments, the employee may qualify for ESL. While on ESL, the employee's department supplements the employee's Workers' Compensation payments so that the employee's total income is 80% of his/her regular UC pay. ESL benefits can be paid for up to 26 weeks.
If an employee returns to part-time work, the employee's earnings, plus any Workers' Compensation payments, shall be supplemented to 80% by the ESL benefit.
If an employee is still receiving Workers' Compensation temporary disability payments when ESL benefits are exhausted, the employee can apply for supplemental disability if enrolled in the UC Supplemental Disability Insurance Plan. Supplemental disability is combined with Workers' Compensation benefits so that the employee's income will be 70% of his/her regular UC pay. Supplemental disability is payable for up to 52 weeks.
If an employee is unable to work due to a work-related injury, the employee is not paid temporary disability payments for the first three days unless hospitalized or unable to work for more than 14 days. Therefore, the employee shall receive ESL benefits to cover any part of this 3-day waiting period, if the employee does not have sufficient accrued sick leave.
The following employees are not eligible for ESL:
- Senior Managers
- Safety employees who qualify for leave with full salary
- Non-Senate Academic employees
- Employees who elect not to use their sick leave accruals
- Employees in the Temporary Employment Pool (TEP)
Supervisor's Checklist
- Before approving ESL payments, the supervisor and/or payroll processor
must:
- Verify that the employee has an accepted Workers' Compensation claim by contacting Sedgwick CMS ;
- Ensure that the employee has exhausted all accrued sick leave (and, if applicable, all vacation leave);
- Monitor the employee's ESL balance to ensure it is not paid beyond 26 weeks.
MORE
Disability Benefits Claims Procedures
Disability (including Pregnancy Disability) and Termination of Employment Benefits Checklist