LEAVE OF ABSENCE
G. Worker’s Compensation Leave
Employees who sustain work-related injury or illness are covered by Worker's
Compensation insurance, which provides medical benefits and partial wage
replacement.
Reporting Injuries: Employees must immediately report any work-related
injury or illness to their manager or HR.
Medical Treatment: Employees must follow the procedures for seeking medical
treatment as directed by WDLT and the Worker's Compensation insurance
carrier.
Pay Status: Worker’s Compensation benefits may be available for income
replacement for lost wages, which is typically a percentage of the employee's
average weekly wage, not full pay.
Job Protection: Worker’s Compensation laws do not provide any specific job
protected leave akin to the federal FMLA or CT FMLA. However, if a work-
related injury or illness qualifies as a "serious health condition" under FMLA or
CT FMLA (e.g., results in an absence of more than five consecutive workdays),
the leave will run concurrently with the employee's FMLA/CT FMLA
entitlement. In such cases, the job protection provisions of FMLA/CT FMLA
would apply.
Concurrency with FMLA/CT FMLA: If an employee's absence due to a work-
related injury or illness qualifies under FMLA/CT FMLA, WDLT will designate
the leave as FMLA/CT FMLA concurrent with the Worker's Compensation
leave and notify the employee in writing.
H. Non-FMLA/CFMLA Leave (Discretionary Leave)
For personal or medical reasons not covered by FMLA/CT FMLA, or after
FMLA/CT FMLA entitlements have been exhausted, WDLT may, at its sole
discretion, grant an unpaid leave of absence.
Purpose: To provide employees with time off for significant personal events,
extended illness, or other critical situations not covered by statutory leave
entitlements.
Eligibility and Duration: Eligibility for, and the duration of, a discretionary
leave will be determined on a case-by-case basis, considering the employee's
length of service, performance, reason for leave, and the operational needs of
WDLT.