Unlike other types of leave, medical leave can't always be planned for and sometimes we find ourselves needing to start a medical leave of absence immediately. If you've found yourself in that position, first and foremost, we're wishing you the absolute best and for a seamless recovery and we'll be here every step of the way to ensure you have everything you need for a successful leave of absence.
If you're looking to take a medical leave, and want to get all the information you need quickly, here are the top ten things you need to know:
1. What is medical leave?
Medical leave provides time off work to focus on physical or mental health treatment or recovery.
You'll work with your medical provider to determine necessary support and time off.
2. How does medical leave work?
Medical leave involves two factors:
Time off, provided by employer policies and/or federal and state laws where applicable.
Pay during leave, potentially sourced from short-term disability benefits, state programs, or employer policies. Not all leaves have supplemental pay - you'll be able to see where this comes in as you plan your leave in Cocoon.
3. Planning your leave:
You can request a medical leave under your company policy, federal/state protections like FMLA, or as an ADA accommodation if other options aren't available.
Your plan will remain private until submission, after which your manager and HR team will be notified.
If you're taking an intermittent medical leave, click here for guidance on how to plan your intermittent leave.
4. Submitting your leave plan:
Inform your company of your medical leave by submitting your leave in Cocoon.
Your leave dates may change, and that's okay. You'll work with your medical provider and Cocoon dashboard throughout the process to ensure all parties are up to date
If you're taking an intermittent medical leave, click here for guidance on how to submit your intermittent leave.
5. Responsibilities before you start your leave:
Ensure accurate leave dates, familiarize yourself with your claims/paperwork and pay details, finalize your leave transition plan with your manager, and explore the Cocoon Employee Help Center.
If you're taking an intermittent medical leave, click here for guidance on how to report your intermittent leave hours.
6. During your leave:
You'll need to ensure your medical provider has completed your leave forms and that they are submitted within 15 days of your leave submission.
Cocoon will guide you through the claims process in the Your Claims tab in your dashboard.
You'll also need to stay responsive to any requests from state or private disability carriers for additional information.
7. Pay during leave:
Benefit payments can often take 2-6 weeks to arrive once a claim is submitted, so it may be worthwhile to budget accordingly.
You can expect any private disability benefits to be paid to you via check through the mail, unless you set up an alternative with your insurance carrier directly.
8. Handling changes:
Changes to leave dates are normal, and may occur under your medical provider's supervision.
If your medical provider makes any changes to your care plan, reflect these changes on your Cocoon dashboard as soon as possible and notify state and/or private insurance provider(s).
Cocoon will automatically notify your HR team of any date changes as you make them to your leave plan
9. Uncertain leave dates:
If you're unsure of your exact leave dates, consult with your medical provider for advice.
Reach out to your HR/People team if you need to plan leave on a reduced or partial work schedule.
10. We're here for you!
Remember, this medical leave is available to support you during challenging health circumstances, and Cocoon is there to guide you through the process.
If you'd like a more in-depth walkthrough of the process with more details and additional context, you can find more exhaustive guidance in our Leave guide for medical leave!
Have Questions? We're here to help!
Email us at [email protected]