The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that protects your benefits and your job while you are on leave for an FMLA-qualifying reason.

In accordance with the FMLA, Sodexo provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month rolling-backward period.

You are eligible for FMLA leave if:

• You have 12 months of service with Sodexo

• You have worked 1,250 hours in the 12 months prior to the beginning of the leave

• At least 50 employees are employed by Sodexo within 75 miles of your work site and

• You need leave for:

  • Your own serious health condition that makes you unable to perform your job

  • The care of your spouse, son, daughter or parent who has a serious health condition

    • A son or daughter is a biological, adopted or foster child; or a stepchild, legal ward or child for whom the employee has day-to-day responsibilities for care and financial support

    • The son or daughter must be

      • Under age 18 or

      • Incapable of self-care due to a physical or mental disability at the time the FMLA leave is to begin

  • The birth, adoption or foster care placement of a child

  • The care of your spouse, son, daughter, parent or your nearest blood relative who is a "covered service member" which includes:

    • A current member of the Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or Reserves, who is:

      • Undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy

      • Otherwise in outpatient status or

      • Otherwise on the temporary disability retired list, for a serious injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty on active duty

    • A veteran who:

      • Was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable at any time during the five-year period prior to the first date the eligible employee takes FMLA leave to care for the covered veteran and

      • Is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy for a serious injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty on active duty

  • A qualifying event arising out of the fact that your spouse, son, daughter or parent is on covered active duty or call to covered active duty status with the Armed Forces deployed to a foreign country

If you are not eligible for FMLA, you may be able to apply for:

• Non-FMLA Medical Leave for your own health condition, or

• Non-FMLA Family Leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition

  • Non-FMLA Family Leave Requirement: Minimum of six months of service

Personal Leave may be available for all non-medical reasons for employees with at least six months of service.

Sodexo can approve or deny Non-FMLA Leave and Personal Leave based on business needs.

When to Request Family Medical Leave

• 30 days in advance, when the need is foreseeable

• As soon as practicable, when the need is unforeseeable

Failure to comply with FMLA's and Sodexo's usual notice and procedural requirements, with no unusual circumstances to justify the failure to comply, may result in FMLA-protected leave being delayed or denied.

How to Take Family Medical Leave

FMLA leave may be taken:

• In a block of time up to 12 consecutive weeks OR

• When medically necessary or due to a qualifying event, intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule

  • Leave taken intermittently must be taken in no less than 30-minute increments

Pay

FMLA leave is unpaid. You will not receive your regular pay or holiday pay.

While you are on leave, you may receive pay if you choose to:

• Use your time off such as vacation and/or personal days (see Time Off Overview)

• Use your Sick Leave if you or your child, spouse or parent has a serious health condition or as otherwise permitted by state/local paid sick leave laws or State Leave of Absence Laws

Taking Paid Time Off

If you are a Salaried Exempt or Administrative employee (classification code 2, 3, 4, 7), you will not be able to access Kronos to enter Paid Time Off (PTO) during a leave of absence.

To use PTO during a leave of absence, complete the Leave of Absence Paid Time Off Form.

Benefits

During FMLA leave, you may continue or cancel your benefits.

Learn about Benefits While on Leave of Absence.

Getting Started

• Talk to your manager

• Contact New York Life Group Benefit Solutions:

  • Call (888) 842-4462 or

  • Visit the New York Life Website

Please note:

• You must be honest when completing any documents related to a leave request

• You cannot begin working for another company while you are on an approved leave of absence

Sodexo reserves the right to terminate your employment if you violate your obligations.

What to Expect

When you file a claim with New York Life, they will determine whether you qualify for leave under federal and/or state law, or Company policy. New York Life will then send you the appropriate leave of absence (LOA) communications, including:

• Whether you are preliminarily eligible for FMLA

• How much FMLA time is available to you

• If you need to provide any certifications

• How to make payments to continue your benefits (medical, dental, vision, life and disability) or how to cancel your benefits and re-enroll when you return to work

• Any other related policy information

Please note: You must complete and return the required forms within 15 calendar days from receipt. Failure to do so could result in the denial of your FMLA leave request.

If you have any questions about your benefits options — or if you did not receive a letter explaining your benefits options — please call the Sodexo Benefits Center at Phone: 855-668-5040 8a.m.-8p.m. ET, M-F

Job Protection

Your job will remain protected during an FMLA leave. This means that when you return to work, you will be restored to the same or an equivalent position to the one you held when you began your leave.

Retaliation Prohibited

Sodexo prohibits retaliation against any employee who requests and/or takes an FMLA leave.