Military Leave
Hackensack Meridian Health team members who are in the uniformed services are eligible to take Temporary Military Leave to participate in military training (for up to ten days per year) and Extended Military Leave (all other military leave) in accordance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Right Act (USERRA).
Team members that are directed to participate in military service that exceeds ten working days will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence. Eligibility for benefits during the leave, length of leave, and other conditions depend upon the circumstances of the leave and other qualifying factors.
Please see our Leaves of Absence policy on PolicyStat for a full list of leaves available and corresponding eligibility requirements.
IMPORTANT: Team members returning from Military Leave will be guaranteed reemployment to their prior or similar position and/or the position the team member would have obtained had it not been for the military service, in accordance with law.*
1. Notify your leader of your intent to take a leave.
2. Call My Sedgwick at 1-866-901-0257 or log in/create an account at My Sedgwickt to submit your request for a leave. You must call 30 days in advance of the leave, if possible.
Full-time and part-time team members may be granted unpaid leaves of absence for military service.
- Eligible team members who must be absent from their job for a period of not more than ten working days each year in order to participate in military training, are entitled to as many as ten days paid military leave.
- Team members will be paid the difference between their medical center pay and the National Guard or Reserve pay/allowance, providing the latter is less than their regular pay.
Team members directed to participate in extended military duties in the U.S. Armed Forces that exceed ten working days will be placed on an unpaid military leave of absence.
Team members returning from military leave will be guaranteed reemployment to their prior or similar position and/or the position the team member would have obtained had it not been for the military service, in accordance with the law.
- All accrued and unused PTO and holiday time will be paid out to you at the beginning of your leave.
- Medical coverage will continue for up to 30 days at the active team member rate, provided you elect to continue coverage and pay your portion of the premium.
- You have the option to continue with HMH’s health insurance at your own expense after 30 days on leave at 100 percent of the full cost for up to 24 months. However, your military medical benefits become effective on the date of deployment or enlistment.
- As long as you are receiving a paycheck from HMH, your medical deductions will be taken out of your paycheck. Once you are no longer receiving a paycheck from HMH, you will be billed for your medical deductions directly by Baker Tilly.
- The team member has an option to cancel their medical coverage when they go on military active duty.
- The team member can re-enroll back to the prior coverage effective their return to work date
1. Submit your military discharge documentation to the LOA Accommodations team to confirm the length and character of your military service.
2. Depending on the length of your absence, you will be reinstated in your prior or similar position and/or the position you would have obtained had it not been for the military service, in accordance with law.* Please see the full Leaves of Absence policy on PolicyStat. Please note: Upon return from a military leave, your base salary will be adjusted to reflect any increases you would have received had you remained on the job.
3. Call your leader to coordinate your return to work.
* Upon returning from a military leave, a team member is not entitled to reinstatement if any of the following conditions exist: 1) The team member failed to apply for re-employment in a timely manner; 2) The team member did not receive an honorable discharge from military service; 3) HMH’s circumstances have so changed as to make reemployment impossible or unreasonable.
Leave of Absence - My Sedgwick (effective 1/1/24)
- 1-866-901-0257
- Visit Website
Leave of Absence - Team Member Service Center
- 1-551-996-2877
- Open an HR inquiry via the Team Member Service Center tile in MyWay.
If you need to change leave dates, you should first notify your leader and then My Sedgwick.
As long as you are receiving a paycheck from HMH, your medical deductions will be taken out of your paycheck. Once you are no longer receiving a paycheck from HMH, you will be billed for your medical deductions directly by Baker Tilly.
The team member has an option to cancel their medical coverage when they go on military active duty.
The team member can re-enroll back to the prior coverage effective their return to work date.