2023 CVS Leave of Absence Policy: Everything You Need to Know

The 2023 CVS Leave of Absence policy is an important component of CVS’ employee benefits package. The policy allows eligible employees to take time off from work for various reasons, ranging from personal illness to caregiving responsibilities, without fear of losing their job or facing negative consequences.

Eligibility Requirements

The CVS leave of absence policy provides eligible employees with protected time off from work. The eligibility criteria for this policy depends on the type of employee and the duration of leave requested.

Full-time Employees

All full-time employees of CVS are entitled to take a leave of absence. To be eligible for this benefit, they must have worked at CVS for at least 12 months and have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months prior to their leave request.

Moreover, they must work at a location where the company employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles.

Part-time Employees

Part-time employees of CVS can also take a leave of absence, provided that they meet the eligibility criteria. The length of the leave may be shorter for part-time employees compared to full-time employees.

To qualify for the leave, a part-time employee must have worked for the company for at least 12 months and have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months prior to their leave request. They also must work at a CVS location with 50 or more employees within 75 miles and be classified as a regular employee.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Employees of CVS may be eligible for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Qualifying reasons for FMLA may include the employee’s own serious health condition, caring for a similarly-qualified family member, bonding with a newborn or newly adopted child, or qualifying exigencies related to a family member’s military service.

To be eligible for FMLA leave, the employee must have worked at least 12 months for CVS and have worked a minimum of 1,250 hours during the previous 12 months. Additionally, CVS must employ at least 50 employees within a 75-mile radius of the employee’s worksite.

Note: Additional eligibility requirements and restrictions may apply to the CVS leave of absence policy. For more details, employees can refer to the company’s leave of absence policy.

Reasons for Taking a Leave of Absence

If you are an employee in a company with 50 or more employees within 75 miles and have worked for your employer for at least 12 months, you may be eligible for a leave of absence. But what are the reasons that qualify for a leave of absence?

Medical Reasons

One of the most common reasons for taking a leave of absence is for medical reasons. Employees may need to take time off due to their own serious medical conditions or to care for family members with serious medical conditions.

These medical issues may also include maternity or paternity leave. Eligible employees can take FMLA leave to care for a child, spouse, or parent who has a serious health condition.

Caring for a family member under the FMLA includes assistance with basic medical, hygienic, nutritional, safety, transportation needs, physical care, or psychological comfort.

Personal Reasons

Personal reasons can also qualify for a leave of absence. These reasons may include the need to take care of personal matters or to pursue educational opportunities.

If you need to take time off to attend to matters such as legal proceedings or to deal with a family crisis, you may be able to request for a leave of absence from your employer.

Family Reasons

Employees may need to take time off to attend to family matters, such as the birth or adoption of a child or the need to care for a family member. If an employee needs to take time off to care for a family member with a serious illness, they may be eligible for family leave under the FMLA.

Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period to care for a spouse, child or parent with a serious medical condition.

Duration of Leave

CVS offers various leaves of absence for its employees, including medical, personal, and family leaves. The duration of these leaves depends on the type of leave and the reason for the employee’s absence.

Medical Leave

An eligible employee can take a medical leave of absence for up to 26 weeks within a single rolling 12-month period. This leave can be used for the employee’s own serious health condition, which includes both physical and mental health issues that require extended care or hospitalization.

Personal Leave

CVS provides personal leaves of absence for eligible employees for up to two weeks within a 12-month period. These leaves can be used for any personal reasons, including caregiving, bereavement, or personal health issues.

Family Leave

CVS offers different types of family leave programs, and the duration of each leave varies. Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition, to bond with a new child within one year of birth or adoption, or for a qualifying exigency related to a family member’s military deployments or injuries.

CVS also provides parental leave, which allows eligible employees to take up to four weeks of paid leave within the first year of their child’s birth or adoption. Additionally, CVS offers bereavement leave for up to five consecutive business days to employees who have lost an immediate family member.

Benefits During Leave

Employees are entitled to various benefits when taking a leave of absence. Some of the benefits include:

Health Insurance

During a leave of absence, an employee may still be eligible to continue their health insurance benefits. The continuation of health insurance depends on the terms of the employer’s policy and if the employee is eligible for such benefits.

Employees can usually continue their health insurance for a certain period while on leave. They may be required to pay the employee portion of the premium while on leave.

401(k) Plan

While on a leave of absence, employees are usually allowed to continue making contributions to their 401(k) plan. The employee and employer contributions may be suspended depending on the terms of the plan.

The employee can check with the employer to know the possible options for their 401(k) investments.

Vacation and Sick Time

Employees may use their accrued vacation and sick time during a leave of absence. The eligibility for vacation and sick time during leave depends on the employer’s policy.

The eligibility varies across different companies, so employees should reach out to their supervisors or HR representatives to know the specific policy of their employer.

Note: Employees should review the employer’s leave policy to learn about the benefits they are entitled to receive while on a leave of absence. Each employer has its own policy, and it is essential that employees understand their options.

Returning from Leave

When an employee is ready to return from a leave of absence, there are certain requirements they need to fulfill in order to resume their work as smoothly as possible.

Notice Requirements

Employees must submit a written request to return to work if they are returning early from a leave of absence. They should also notify their employer of their intent to return to work at least five (5) working days prior to the requested date of return.

This notice should be given in writing and should include the reason for their absence and the anticipated date of return.

Reinstatement Requirements

When an employee returns from leave, they should be reinstated to their previous job or an equivalent position. They should receive the same pay, benefits, and working conditions they had before they took the leave, unless there have been changes due to the company’s overall policies or restructuring.

The employee’s time on leave is considered as continuous employment, so they should not lose any seniority or benefits they have earned prior to their absence. Returning employees may also need to provide documentation to explain their absence and to certify their ability to return to work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my employer deny my leave of absence request?

Employers are not permitted to deny you maternity leave under the law. Because you plan to take the leave, your employer cannot fire you. If you have paid sick leave, you can take it.

Can I take a leave of absence for maternity or paternity leave?

Employees are eligible for leave if they have worked for their employer at least 12 months, at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and work at a location where the company employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles. We even offer four weeks of paid parental leave for parents after one year of service.

Conclusion

Overall, the CVS leave of absence policy is designed to provide eligible employees with the opportunity to take time off without affecting their employment status or benefits. Whether it’s for medical reasons or personal reasons, employees can take advantage of this policy to ensure their well-being and work-life balance.

Employees returning from leave must submit a request and may need to certify their ability to return to work. However, the company cannot deny maternity leave under the law, and employees on leave have the right to continue to participate in pension plans, life insurance plans, accidental death plans, extended health plans, and dental plans during their leave.

References

Lora Turner

Lora Turner is an Experienced HR professional worked with the large organizations and holding 15 years of experience dealing with employee benefits. She holds expertise in simplifying the leave for the employee benefits. Contact us at: [email protected]