Medical Leave Guidelines
Definition of Terms
Accommodation: Temporary or long-term modification to the way in which a job function is performed. Temporary accommodations may waive essential functions. Temporary restricted work does not need to be within the employee’s classification nor position. It must however, be work of value to the department. Long-term modifications must be reasonable. Refer to FSDS for assistance with long-term accommodations, typically > 6 months duration.
Accruals: Eligible employees earn vacation and sick leave when in paid status
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
AFSCME: American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees bargaining unit for covered Merit employees.
Bonding: FMLA period of absence following the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child in the employee’s home. Purpose is to care for and develop a relationship with the child. Typically, no one is ill during this FMLA period.
Catastrophic (CAT) Leave: Vacation donations received from other UI employees in order to remain in paid status.
Continuous Leave/Absence: Work absences of contiguous work days intended for use to recover and return to work without further need for leave.
DARF: Disability Accommodation Request Form to document long-term accommodations provided in support of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
DOL Form: Department of Labor Health Certification Form (aka Medical Certification Form)
EMJFA: Essential and Marginal Job Function Analysis
FMLA: Family Medical Leave Act
FMLA Incapacity: Inability to work, attend school, or perform other regular daily activities due to the condition, treatment or during recovery
FSDS: Faculty and Staff Disability Services
FTE: Full Time Equivalent
HR Unit Rep: University of Iowa Human Resources Unit Representative
Intermittent: Work absences in increments requiring less than full day absence (ex: 30 minutes to travel to medical appointment at end of shift) or full day absences occurring several times a year.
LOA: Unpaid Medical Leave of Absence, if not FMLA leave, is contiguous work days, authorized by Department and/or Senior HR leadership.
LTD: Long Term Disability benefit available for eligible employees offered by Principle Insurance.
MMI: Maximum Medical Improvement. Employee with work-related injury is determined by authorized WC medical provider to have stabilized. Permanent restrictions, if applicable, are set.
MSE/C: Merit Supervisory Exempt or Merit Confidential employees
NSC: Nursing Staffing Clerk. Applicable only to UIHC Department of Nursing departments and employees.
Physically Worked: Employee worked time; not absent for vacation, sick, comp time, holiday, unpaid leave, or unscheduled time.
P&S: Professional and Scientific staff
PSR: Patient Status Report
Restricted Work: Temporary restrictions, typically of less than six months, requiring work adjustments/modifications. Sometimes referred to as temporary accommodations, but are not considered ADA accommodations.
Reduced Work Schedule: Medically able to work less than a full work schedule. Some situations may require FTE reduction (ex: no FMLA or paid leave are available). Refer to Senior HR Leadership and Central HR prior to making FTE changes.
Restrictions: Medical restrictions impacting an employee’s ability to perform one or more aspects of his/her job.
RWP: Restricted Work Plan. Form to document temporary restricted work assignment until resuming full work responsibilities.
SEIU: Service Employees International Union, bargaining unit for tertiary care professional employees
Senior HR Rep: Senior HR Representative
THP: Treating Healthcare Provider
WC: Workers’ Compensation
WCS: Workers’ Compensation Specialists
WIAT: Work Injury Accommodation Team. Team that supports employee and department when employee incurs a work related injury.