Staff HR Policy D-722.01
Institutional Effectiveness Criterion: Culture

Family and Medical Leave Procedure

The College will comply with the provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, and as amended.

To be eligible for family and medical leave an employee must have worked for Northwestern Michigan College for at least 12 months and for at least 1,250 hours during the year preceding the start of the leave.

Employees shall provide at least 30 calendar days' advance notice in writing to the supervisor, where the leave is foreseeable.  The leave shall be reported to the Human Resources, who will verify that the time off requested qualifies for family and medical leave.

Medical certification will be required to support a request for leave because of a serious health condition.  A medical release to return to work will also be required.  Forms for this purpose are available from Human Resources.

Intermittent or reduced-time leave schedules must be approved by the supervisor unless medically necessary.

Medical coverage will continue to be provided during the leave including dependent coverage, with premiums deducted from the employee's paycheck. If the employee is on unpaid leave, an arrangement will be made for repayment of medical premiums upon return to work. The employee may choose to continue dental, vision, and other benefits while on FMLA under the same conditions. No other wages or benefits will be paid or accrued during the unpaid portion of the leave.

NMC may recover both the employee premiums and the NMC share of the premiums as well for continued benefits coverage if the employee does not return to work, unless the reason for not returning is the continuation of a serious health condition or other circumstances beyond the employee's control.

Employees requesting family and medical leave will be provided with a statement of their rights and obligations regarding this leave.

If any provision(s) of this policy or set of bylaws conflicts with laws applicable to Northwestern Michigan College, including the Community College Act of 1966, the Freedom of Information Act, or the Open Meetings Act, as each may be amended from time to time, such laws shall control and supersede such provision(s).