Medical Leave Best Practices
About This Site
This web site serves as a resource in the consistent application of best practices concerning employee leaves and is intended to provide guidance primarily to University of Iowa Human Resource (HR) Unit Representatives and Faculty HR Representatives in the implementation of University leave policy pertaining to:
- employee personal medical,
- employee family medical and
- FMLA military leaves
The content addresses staff leaves, however; some policy applications will also be applicable to fiscal year faculty (e.g. FMLA, FCGL, Catastrophic, vacation, sick, parental, etc.), and as applicable, academic year faculty (e.g., FMLA, FCGL, sick, parental, etc.).
This site is a working site and changes are made regularly to correspond to Federal and State law changes and to maintain best practices intent. Frequent visits to the site are encouraged to assure use of the most recent information. The University of Iowa encourages employees to maintain regular and consistent attendance; however, understands employees may need to be absent from work for personal medical and family medical needs. Please refer to the University’s Expectations and Philosophical Statement on Leaves and Use of Benefits for more information. Download/View Statement (pdf) now.
This site identifies leave information and department and employee responsibilities in requesting, designating and reporting leave. Additional information of department Leave Functions is located in the Leave Functions Description (pdf). We anticipate employees, HR Unit Reps, Faculty HR Reps and supervisors will conduct improved planning and decision making concerning leave by having more knowledge of these responsibilities and opportunities.
The information on this site and on the Leave Functions Description (pdf) provide resources necessary to assure HR Unit Representatives and Managers guide employees in the use of applicable leaves when unable to attend work for personal medical and/or family medical concerns. Additionally, the information is intended to assist in the encouragement of employees to build and maintain accrual balances necessary for medical and personal absences.
HR Unit Representatives are encouraged to assure effective communication with supervisors and employees in the management of necessary medical absences/leaves. For example, HR Unit Representatives may need to review unpaid leave requests/designations prior to authorization and/or HR Unit Representatives may consider review and planning meetings with supervisors. These meetings can be used to review current medical documentation and known information about employee leaves, identify communication needs with employees regarding leave status and options, and develop necessary work coverage plans until an employee returns to regular and consistent work attendance and performance.
It is important to note that all medical information is confidential and only information applicable to the work requirements is to be shared with managers and supervisors. Medical document filing requirements are noted on the appropriate medical leave web page as indicated on the index below.
Please contact Faculty and Staff Disability Services if you have questions or need assistance.