OSPS E-News ~ Reminder: Important Family and Medical Leave Policy Change - Fixed Calendar Leave Year

[Announcements from OSPS to the users of the Oregon State Payroll Application]

Payroll Professionals,

Here is a message that DAS OSPS and DAS CHRO partnered on to highlight the changes in the Family and Medical Leave policy that will impact payroll offices.  This policy change will be a topic at OSPS' January forum too.
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The DAS Chief Human Resources Office has updated the statewide Family and Medical Leave policy, 60.000.15, making changes that will assist our employee's when they have need to take protected leave.  There are three main changes to the policy.

Effective January 1, 2019:



1.       Employees who are on Family and Medical Leave (FMLA/OFLA) and are in leave without pay status may choose to have the agency pay their share of core insurances premiums on their behalf.  Repayment of these premiums will be recoverable from the employee's first available paycheck(s) upon their return to work. If the employee fails to return to work, they must repay the agency the amount paid on their behalf.



This option is available only during the months FMLA and/or OFLA is used. Once Family and Medical Leave is exhausted, the employee no longer has the option to have the agency pay their portion of the core insurance premiums on their behalf.



This policy decision was made so we, as an employer, can make things a little easier for employees when they are on leave, and to be consistent statewide with how an employee may pay for their portion of core insurance premiums.
The Insurance Self-Pay Payroll Letter in the Family and Medical Leave toolkit has been updated to reflect this new option. Please remember to update your agency specific letter(s).


2.       The leave year is changed to a calendar year (no more rolling back hours!)



3.       An employee may choose to continue LWOP after FMLA/OFLA exhausts if still receiving short term disability payments.
The new policy may be found at https://www.oregon.gov/das/HR/Documents/60-000-15-1.pdf
The policy toolkit may be found at https://www.oregon.gov/das/HR/Pages/FMLA2019.aspx
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Thanks,

Seth Lewis
Manager
DAS/EGS/FBS/Oregon Statewide Payroll Services
503-373-0198, direct
503-378-3518, fax
503-378-6777, OSPS Help Desk
seth.lewis at oregon.gov<mailto:seth.lewis at oregon.gov>
Visit Our Online Resource Center:  State of Oregon: Oregon Statewide Payroll Services<http://www.oregon.gov/das/Financial/Payroll/Pages/Index.aspx>

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