PURPOSE

This policy was established to define the Short-Term Disability (STD) Program offered at the University when a Professional Staff Member is unable to work for a qualifying period of time not to exceed 90 days.

APPLICABILITY

This policy applies to all eligible Professional Staff Members, excluding any Professional Staff Member governed by language in their collective bargaining unit agreement.

IMPLEMENTATION

Implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the Department of Human Resources in conjunction with the Designated Third-Party Administrator.

ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT

The President, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is the official responsible for the administration of this policy.

POLICY

Short-term disability is an employee-paid, voluntary benefit offered to Full and Part-time Professional Staff Members and is administered through the Designated Third-Party Administrator. Short-term disability provides income to Professional Staff Members who are unable to work for a qualifying period of time due to their own health condition for a non-work related illness or injury, which prevents the performance of normal duties of their position. In order to access this benefit, the Professional Staff Member must be enrolled in a short-term disability benefit plan during the year in which the disability commences.

DEFINITIONS

Family Medical Leave is defined as leave under the Federal Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) as provided in Academy policy number HR-33.

Non-FMLA Medical Leave of Absence is defined as medical leave taken by a Professional Staff Member pursuant to Academy policy number HR-39.01.

Elimination Period is defined as the time period in between when a Professional Staff Member's disability commences and when they start receiving short-term disability benefits. The Elimination Period for the standard short-term disability plan is 30 days. The Elimination Period for the enhanced short-term disability plan is 14 days.

Designated Third-Party Administrator is the Drexel-chosen provider for short-term disability administration.

Short-Term Disability Short-Term Disability is defined as the benefits that a Professional Staff Member may be entitled to receive to cover a portion of their income if they are out of work due to a covered illness or injury. The maximum duration of short-term disability benefits is ninety (90) days from the date the qualifying disability commences.

Professional Staff Member is defined as an individual employed in any non-faculty category by Drexel University, including an individual who is deemed to be either exempt or non-exempt under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and/or applicable state law.

Full-time Professional Staff Member is a Professional Staff Member who is regularly scheduled to work 40 hours per week.

Part-time Professional Staff Member is a Professional Staff Member who is regularly scheduled to work at least 20 hours, but less than 40 hours per week.

PROCEDURES

1. In order to receive short-term disability benefits, an eligible Professional Staff Member must apply for a Family Medical Leave or Non-FMLA Medical Leave of Absence by contacting the Designated Third-Party Administrator to initiate their claim. Short-term disability benefits provide income when an employee is on a leave of absence due to their own health condition.
2. Short-term disability benefits will be paid during the Professional Staff Member's Family Medical Leave or Non-FMLA Medical Leave of Absence.
3. If the Professional Staff Member is enrolled in the standard short-term disability plan and is approved by the Designated Third-Party Administrator, the benefit will commence on the 31st day after disability begins. The Professional Staff Member will receive disability benefits from the insurance company equal to 60 percent of their gross monthly salary in effect at the time disability occurred. The maximum benefit will not exceed $2,700 per week. If the Professional Staff Member has elected the enhanced short-term disability plan, and is approved by the Designated Third-Party Administrator, the benefit will commence on the 15th day after disability begins. The Professional Staff Member will receive disability benefits from the insurance company equal to 60 percent of their gross monthly salary in effect at the time disability occurred. The maximum benefit will not exceed $2,700 per week.
4. Short-term disability benefits will be paid up to the maximum of 90 days, however, benefits will not be paid during the Elimination Period.
5. Disability payments will be reduced by amounts payable from certain other sources such as state disability benefits law.
6. The premium for short-term disability benefits is deducted as an after-tax deduction on the Professional Staff Member's paycheck. This enables the benefit payments to be received as a nontaxable income.
7. The Professional Staff Member must notify Human Resources and the Designated Third-Party Administrator 15 days prior to their anticipated return if they are unable to return to work beyond 90 days of disability.
8. If the Professional Staff Member returns to active employment immediately after receiving short-term disability benefits and becomes disabled for the same condition less than two weeks after returning to work, the Professional Staff Member is not required to satisfy another Elimination Period.
9. If an application for short-term disability benefits is denied, the Professional Staff Member has the right to appeal the decision by contacting the Designated Third-Party Administrator.

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT NOT AFFECTED
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated in this policy, nothing herein is intended to alter the at-will status of any Professional Staff Member. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University always retains the right to terminate any Professional Staff Member at any time for any lawful reason, or for no reason at all.