CRONA
Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement
Area Representatives and Membership Meetings
September 1 and 3, 2009

Leave of Absence

What is LOA?
An LOA is an absence from work that qualifies as leave under the Federal and/or State Family and Medical Leave Acts. The CRONA contracts under LPCH Sections 10 and 11 and SHC Sections 11 and 15 provide additional information related to LOA.

Examples of LOA – Medical: your own serious health condition – Family member: to care for a qualified family member who has a serious health condition – Bonding: to care for a child, newborn, adopted, or placed with you for foster care – Pregnancy – Worker’s Compensation: work related serious health condition – Personal leave: non-medical leave due to compelling personal reasons – Military: associated with military duty – Educational: to pursue education pertinent to a nurse’s employment at the hospital. Eligibility for this leave is found in your CRONA contracts – Intermittent leave: medical leave to take care of yourself, your newborn or immediate seriously ill family member or baby-bonding

How to Apply (except for educational LOA)
1. Once you determined you need an LOA, the first step is to discuss your leave with your manager.
2. Apply by starting a claim either on-line with Matrix Intake at www.matrixeservices.com or by calling Matrix at (866) 533-3438 thirty days prior to a known LOA. Matrix will send you a packet and Matrix will fax the MD certification form directly to your MD office. The MD certification form must be returned to Matrix within 15 calendar days from the time you contact Matrix to apply for the leave.

For an emergency leave, you need to call Matrix as soon as possible.

Typically, approval for a leave can take about 2 weeks. You and your manager will be notified in writing once your leave has been approved or denied. This information is also sent to HR and Payroll.

To ensure accurate PTO pay while on leave, return your PTO election form to Matrix within 5 business days of receiving the form.

To be eligible for Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and/or California Family Rights Act (CFRA) you must have completed one year of service and worked 1250 hours in the last months of work.

Supplemental Programs While on LOA
1. State Disability Insurance (SDI) program: There is a 7 day waiting period before SDI is available. SDI checks are supposedly sent within two weeks after a properly completed claim is received in the SDI filed office. The amount you can receive is about 55% of your earnings. More information regarding SDI is available on the web at www.edd.ca.gov.

2. Paid Family Leave (PFL): There is a 7 day waiting period before PFL is available for non-pregnancy related issues. PML checks are sent supposedly within two weeks after a properly completed claim is received. Your weekly benefit is the same as SDI which is 55% of your earnings.

You can choose to supplement the rest of your pay using your PTO. During the 7 day waiting period you also have a choice whether to use or not use your PTO or ATO.

Pregnancy Disability Leave
An employee who is disabled on account of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition is entitled to take Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL). Unlike FMLA and CFRA you do not need to meet the hours required to be eligible for PDL.

Return To Work with Restrictions
Matrix communicates with your manager and Occupational Health when work restrictions are received. You are responsible to maintain communication (we recommend email) with Occupational Health to discuss possible work restrictions and accommodations.

Extending Your LOA
You may request to extend your leave of absence, in doing so, you must notify your manager and LOA Coordinator immediately. You will be required to provide supporting documentation such as a medical certification to support your request for an extension. All documentation must be sent to Matrix.

Returning To Work
If you are unable to return for any reason, you must contact (we recommend email) your manager at least one week in advance of the expiration of your leave.

Additional Tips
Your Matrix Coordinator is your go to person for any questions.
Make sure you and your coordinator are on the same page regarding dates, completion of forms, use of PTO, etc.
Communicate in writing (email) with your coordinator and manager.
Keep a copy of everything you send or fax with the date and time.
A copy of the FAQ developed by Matrix can be obtained by calling (800) 980-1006 or email Stanford- Matrix@matrixcos.com.
The policy related to leave of absence is available through the hospital intranet.
Human Resources provide monthly classes related to pregnancy leaves. Contact HR4U for details.

Jolivette Enriquez R.N., Treasurer
On behalf of the CRONA Executive Board

We will be conducting the negotiation survey, voting for proposed Bylaws changes and proposed CRONA budget for 2010, via home email in October.

Your Area Representatives are currently updating home email addresses of CRONA nurses in good standing.

If you have not been contacted, please provide your home email address to your respective Area Representative(s) by September 12, 2009.

If we do not have your home email address, we will send your survey and ballot to your home address as listed with the hospital. Thank You!

The Ballot and Election Committee

New CRONA Vice President at LPCH
The CRONA Executive Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Colleen Borges, 1 North Bass Center, as CRONA Vice President for LPCH. Colleen has been a CRONA member in good standing at LPCH since 1994. She was a member of the Negotiation Committee and Negotiating Team in 2007. She continues to be a member of the Negotiation Committee for LPCH. In addition to her BSN degree, she holds a Master’s Degree in Nursing with a specialty in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from UCSF.
Please join us in extending our welcome to Colleen.