FML Supervisor FAQs
If you have a question that are not answered here, please reach out to us directly at ua-hr-leaves@alaska.edu to discuss.
Please review the information in the drop down menus below depending on your situation. Reach out to ua-benefits@alaska.edu with any questions.
Direct them to apply with Unum
If you have an ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ who indicates that they need FML for a serious health condition
for themselves or a family member, please direct the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ to Unum so that they
may begin a claim.
Unum can be reached either online, via phone, or through their mobile application.
- Unum phone number 866-779-1054
Time and schedule
As a supervisor, you should be aware of your ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æs absences and direct your ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æs
to complete their time sheets in UAOnline and with Unum appropriately.
- UAOnline Time Recording
- Employees should use sick leave (earnings code 550) for all FML absences
- Supervisors should review time sheets on UAOnline for accuracy before approving
- Unum Time Recording
- Employees must report their FML to Unum as soon as practicable.
- Unum can be contacted online, via phone, or through their mobile application
- Unum phone number 866-779-1054
- Supervisors should be directing ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æs to Unum to enter their time.
Email ua-benefits@alaska.edu
Yes. Please email ua-benefits@alaska.edu with the details surrounding your ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ's FML needs.
May vary; communicated by Unum via the approval notice
If eligible for FML, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æs may be eligible for federal leave and/or state leaves.
State leaves will depend on the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æs work location. You will receive information
via email from Unum regarding your ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ's entitlement.
Sick leave
Sick leave (earnings code 550) is used for all FML absences. Be sure your ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æs
are completing their time sheets properly and coding their FML time as earnings code
550.
Unum tracks the FML entitlement
Unum does not use the same earnings codes as UAOnline. If you have an ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ on
FML, they will enter their sick leave in UAOnline and then reach out to Unum and report
their absence with them separately.
Required to report time to Unum
Employees must report their FML time to Unum to be considered protected under the
FMLA.
No. Time reported to Unum will need to be done directly by the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ. If there are concerns with time reporting (i.e. if the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ is unavailable) please email ua-benefits@alaska.edu.
Supervisors should never see their ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ's medical documentation
No. Supervisors should not have access to any medical data provided on the certification
for a serious health condition. This would include accepting the certification from
the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ and providing it to Unum on the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ's behalf.
FML is unpaid job protection
While FML in unpaid, the university requires that ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æs use their paid leaves
while on approved FML. To do so, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æs must use their sick leave (earnings code
550) when they are absent for FML. If sick leave exhausts, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æs must still use
the 550 earnings code. This code will then cascade automatically to annual leave,
faculty time off, and personal holiday. If you do not have sufficient paid leave to
cover your FML event, you are still entitled to take unpaid FML or review on of the
possible salary continuation options available under the drop down "Since FML is unpaid
leave, what are my salary continuation options?" on the main FML webpage.
Salary continuation options
There are a few salary continuation options available to ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æs out on FML. Review
the salary continuation options on the main FML webpage.
Employees should reach out to their supervisor and Unum
When your ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ is returning to work after their FML event, they will need to reach
out to Unum to close out their FML. As a supervisor, you should direct your ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ
to Unum to discuss closeout information with Unum.
Three options
If your ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ is exhausting their FML entitlement and they are not able to return
to work, there are several options to discuss:
- You can work with your ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ directly to continue a schedule that works for both the department and the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ's needs (not FML protected)
- The ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ can apply for an American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation. Reach out to ua-ada@alaska.edu to discuss.
- The ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ can apply for LTD through Unum
If these options have been exhausted, please reach out to ua-benefits@alaska.edu for additional/next steps.