Military Leave

RF and State Employees

NY Military Law provides 30 calendar days or 22 workdays of paid leave per calendar year for employees activated for military service. Additional leave is available if applying for FMLA for certain military situations. For more information, visit Military Leave Policy.

Eligibility

Employees activated for military service.

Next Steps

RF Employees

Fax a copy of military orders to an HR Leave Administrator at rf_payroll@stonybrook.edu.

State Employees

Fax a copy of military orders to hrs_timeatt@stonybrook.edu.

Military Leave Questions and Answers

Yes, the State will provide an additional 30 calendar days or 22 workdays of paid leave, called "Supplemental Military Leave", for employees who receive Federal orders or are activated by the Governor for military service in connection with the emergency resulting from the September 11, 2001 tragic events. Employees shall continue to be eligible to receive Supplemental Military Leave at full pay through December 31. Beginning January 1, 2003, this will also apply to employees activated for reasons other than "initial active duty training." Please note: Regardless of the number of times an employee is activated between September 11, 2001 and December 31, an employee will be entitled to no more than one grant of Supplemental Military Leave at full pay.
Yes, after exhausting Military Leave with pay (Section 242 of the Military Law), and Supplemental Military Leave with pay, eligible employees may request to use accumulated leave credits (other than Sick leave) with the prior approval of the Department Head/Supervisor, before being placed on military leave at reduced pay.
An employee on Military Leave or Supplemental Military Leave with pay, earns and accrues leave credits, in accordance with the Attendance Rules, and is treated as an employee in full pay status.
Employees on Military Leave at reduced pay are NOT eligible to earn vacation or sick leave or holiday credits.
Employees, who have exhausted military leave and supplemental military leave with pay, and leave accruals if they elect to use them, are deemed to be on military leave at reduced pay without charge to credits. Employees will be paid their basic annual State salary plus location pay and geographic differential as of the time of being activated, reduced by the military salary (base pay plus food and shelter allowances) received from the United States government. Military Leave at reduced pay is available to eligible employees between September 11, 2001 and December 31.
Up to thirty calendar days or twenty two workdays of Training Leave at Reduced Pay are available during calendar year. An employee has one opportunity per calendar year to charge leave credits before being placed on Training Leave at Reduced Pay. This opportunity exits only when ALL of the following conditions are met: the employee has exhausted his/her total entitlement to military leave at full pay under Section 242 of the New York State Military Law in the current calendar year; in the current calendar year the employee has previously performed active military duty related to the war on terror; and the employee has NOT previously been placed on Training Leave at Reduced Pay in the current calendar year. Employees who meet all of these conditions may elect to charge leave credits (except sick leave) for military absences unrelated to the war on terror. Once they stop charging credits and use Training Leave at Reduced Pay for the first time in the calendar year, however, they are not allowed to charge leave credits for military absences to which Training Leave at Reduced Pay would apply for the remainder of the calendar year.

Benefits Questions and Answers

(Bargaining Units M/C, UUP, CSEA, PEF, PBA BU21 & BU31, GSEU)

Your State health insurance will continue as an active employee (deductions will continue) while on paid Military Leave, and the Federal Government provides individual coverage for those on active duty. So, while you are on paid Military Leave, you will have both Federal coverage. While you are on unpaid Military Leave, you will have coverage through the Federal Government only.

Will my State health insurance continue for my dependents?

(Bargaining Units M/C, UUP, CSEA, PEF, PBA BU21 & BU31, GSEU)

Coverage for dependents of state employees enrolled for family coverage in NYSHIP, for at least 30 days prior to activation, will be continued at no cost while on unpaid Military Leave, for a maximum period of 12 months from the date of activation, or until December 31, whichever occurs first. This means that your dependent coverage will continue as an active employee (deductions will continue) while you are on paid Military Leave, and then will continue at no cost once you are on unpaid Military Leave, until 12 months from the date of activation. Available dependent benefits include health, dental, and vision coverage as provided to active employees' families until the employee returns to State employment or is no longer on military duty, whichever occurs first.

Below is a summary of information on Dependent Benefit continuation.

Benefit	Time Period	Cost
BenefitHealth, Dental, Vision Coverage	Time PeriodActivation date to 12 months	CostDeductions continue while paid, no cost while unpaid.
BenefitHealth, Dental, Vision Coverage	Time Period13 months and beyond	CostCost determined by union membership. Contact HRS Benefits Section

If I have a specific plan coverage questions, whom should I contact?

Empire Blue Cross / Blue Shield (Hospital Services)	877-769-7447
United Health Care Service Corporation (Benefits pre-determination, claims, participating providers)
Managed Physical Medicine Program: MPN (Physical therapy chiropractors)
Pre-Certification - hospital admission (must call within 48 hours of emergency admission), maternity and MRI
Value Behavior Health (VBH): mental health
HCAP - medical equipment
Empire Prescription - United Healthcare-Medco
UUP Benefit Trust Fund: Dental and Vision	800-887-3863
CSEA Dental, Vision and Prescription	800-323-2732

Military Leave for Research Foundation Employees

This is a facts sheet for those called to Active Duty Military Service.

Benefits Questions and Answers

Will my Research Foundation health insurance continue?

For periods of approved military leave, your Health, Dental and Vision Care coverage in effect at the time of the leave may be continued for up to 18 months.

Will my health insurance continue for my dependents?

For periods of approved military leave, if you had family coverage in effect at the time of the leave, your dependents will continue to have health coverage for up to 18 months.

Will my life insurance be in effect while on military leave?

Your life insurance coverage in effect at the time of leave may be continued for up to one year. You will have to pay the full premium.

How much will my benefits cost me?

Benefit	Time Period	Cost (Rate)
Health, Dental, Vision Care Coverage	1^st 12 weeks of military leave	Pay the same share of the premium as an active employee
Health, Dental, Vision Care Coverage	13^th to 52^nd week of military leave	Full premium rate listed for Leave of Absence
Health, Dental, Vision Care Coverage	53^rd week and the next 6 months military leave	The COBRA Premium rate (100% + 2% administrative)
Basic Life (AD&D), Optional Life (AD&D)	Continued for up to 1 year, provided premium is paid	Full premium amount

Benefits Rate Schedule

Active Bi-weekly Deduction for Health Insurance

Healthcare Provider	Individual Rate	Family Rate
Empire Deluxe PPO	$16.76	$82.39
Vytra Healthcare	$13.17	$66.87
Blue Choice	$14.88	$74.39
Aetna/US Healthcare HMO	$15.26	$71.82
HIP HMO	$12.44	$57.54
Grad Student Employees (Health, Dental, Vision)	$5.93	Individual + 1 = $23.29 Individual + 2 = $33.51

Leave of Absence Bi-weekly Deductions

Healthcare Provider	Individual Rate	Family Rate
Empire Deluxe PPO	$167.57	$430.12
Vytra Healthcare	$131.69	$346.50
Blue Choice	$148.79	$386.84
Aetna/US Healthcare HMO	$152.60	$378.84
HIP HMO	$124.40	$304.79
Dental	$11.57	$27.35
Vision	$1.88	$4.45
Basic Life	$0.89	N/A
Optional Life	Contact RF Benefits	N/A
Grad Student Employees (Health, Dental, Vision)	$128.42	Individual + 1 = $278.92 Individual + 2 = $367.42

COBRA Monthly Premiums

Healthcare Provider	Individual Rate	Family Rate
Empire Deluxe PPO	$370.33	$950.57
Vytra Healthcare	$291.04	$765.77
Blue Choice	$328.83	$854.91
Aetna/US Healthcare HMO	$337.24	$837.25
HIP HMO	$274.92	$673.59
Dental	$25.57	$60.44
Vision	$4.15	$9.84
Grad Student Employees (Health, Dental, Vision)	$130.99	Individual + 1 = $284.50 Individual + 2 = $374.77

If I have further questions regrading my benefits, who should I contact?

Please do not hesitate to contact a member of our Benefits staff.

Employees: Cori Ribaudo at (631) 632-6163
Graduate Students: Lisa Coleman at (631) 632-6144

Military Leave Questions and Answers

Who should I contact when I get notified of military duty?

You should notify your Department Head/Supervisor immediately.

What documentation do I need to provide and to whom?

A copy of the military orders must be submitted to your Department Head/Supervisor and attached to the first time sheet reflecting military absence.

How should my supervisor complete my time sheet?

Supervisors should indicate absences on time sheets noting "Military Leave".

How much time does the Research Foundation provide for military leave in a calendar year?

New York Military Law provides 30 calendar days or 22 workdays (whichever is greater) of paid leave for employees activated for military service, during any one calendar year or any continuous period of ordered military service.

Can I charge my leave accruals after I have exhausted military leave in order to continue being paid?

Yes, when you have exhausted military leave you may use accrued vacation, holiday, or personal leave credit, or be put on leave without pay for the period of military duty. Please note: the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not allow salary reductions of less than a full workweek for exempt employees who are called to military duty. An exempt employee who has no appropriate leave accruals must be advanced appropriate leave so the absence of less than one week is paid in full.

Do I earn leave accruals while on military leave?

Accruals for vacation and sick leave are discontinued for the duration of unpaid leave. However, length of service during military leave will be credited for the purpose of determining accrual rates.

Once I have completed military service, can I return to my former position?

Yes, under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994, an employee is entitled to re-employment by the Research Foundation upon separation from military service, provided that employee:

Was honorably discharged or terminated from service.
Was employed in a position for which there was an expectation of continued employment.
Has not been absent for duty in the uniformed services for longer than a cumulative period of five years.
Reported to work or notified his or her supervisor of an intention to return to work at the proper time, as indicated in the following table:

Period of Service	Action Employee Must Take	When Action Must be Taken
1 to 30 days	Report to work	On the next regular work day
31 to 180 days	Notify his or her supervisor of the employee's intent to return to work	Within 14 days
181+ days	Notify his or her supervisor of the employee's intent to return to work	Within 90 days

If I have questions regarding military leave, who should I contact?

You may also wish to access on-line information. The policy can be obtained from the RF SUNY website.

Military Leave for State Employees

A facts sheet for those called to Active Military Service

Military Leave

Eligibility

Next Steps

RF Employees

State Employees

More Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Military Leave Questions and Answers

Benefits Questions and Answers

Military Leave for Research Foundation Employees

Benefits Questions and Answers

Benefits Rate Schedule

Active Bi-weekly Deduction for Health Insurance

Leave of Absence Bi-weekly Deductions

COBRA Monthly Premiums

Military Leave Questions and Answers

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